Campaign Story

My name is MeLan Smartt and my husband is Thomas Smartt II. We have been diagnosed with what is called unexplained fertility where we are both healthy reproductively but for unexplained reasons have not been able to conceive for over 7 years. We are also both Active Duty Air Force members and unfortunately, fertility treatments are not covered under our insurance, so finally, we are breaking down and asking for help for our family to grow. I like to think we have a very special story. I met my husband when I was about 5 or 6 years old, over 25 years ago and we have been best friends ever since. So long ago, in fact, that I cannot remember meeting him. He’s just always been there. I had a son from a previous relationship when I was 21 years old and finishing my college degree and became a single mother. Thomas was right there being the best friend and mentor to my son that he could be. Always looking out for us and keeping me company when I’d get lonely. About 4 years later, we started dating for the first time in our lives, and a year and a half later, we were married. When we got married in 2017 we immediately knew we wanted to have a child of our own and started trying right away but we were unsuccessful. In 2018 I joined the Air Force as a vocalist in the Air Force Band and of course Thomas left our home in Detroit, followed and supported me without question. Being in the Air Force requires a lot of traveling so there were times I would be gone and Thomas would be at home with my son. The way he embraced the role of father, at times all alone, so effortlessly and without complaint made me want to have our own even more. So we kept trying. Years went by, we tried several IUI rounds with no success, and still had no answers as to WHY. More time went by, we PCSd to new places, I deployed, and we watched my son go from Kindergarten to now 6th grade and we never gave up hope. Then my husband made a move I greatly respect and still sometimes can’t believe: He joined the Air Force too! He did what he needed to do, to secure the family that we still have hope that we can have and I couldn’t love him more for that. Our 11 year old desperately wants a little sibling and we want him to have that. We recently started looking at fertility treatment again and know that we will need IVF. With it not being covered through our insurance, 30,000 for treatment is an overwhelming figure to say the least. But still, we aren’t giving up hope. We just know we may need a little help. So here we are: humbly asking for help. Our family has given our lives to service and sometimes it is hard for people who serve to ask for help themselves. They say it takes a village to raise a child but in our case, it just may take a village to make one. Anything you can do, even just sharing this campaign, is extremely appreciated. Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts.