Support the Melton Family After Surrogacy Fraud

The Melton family has had an unimaginably difficult journey on their path to grow their family, their fight continues today.

Kathryn & Aaron Melton gave birth to their first boy, Jackson, in June 2019. After a few fun and messy years as a family of 3, the Melton's announced their family was growing to a family of 4. After months of eager anticipation for their second son, a placenta abruption sent Kathryn into early labor, and on March 21, 2021 their beautiful second son James Vincent was born. For 4 days, the Melton family prayed and sang to James as he fought bravely to stay here with his family on Earth. On March 24, 2021 James passed peacefully in the comfort of his parents loving arms, earning his angel wings much too soon.

In his brief time on Earth, James Vincent taught the Melton family of an otherworldly love, one that carried the Melton's through some dark days where they held onto hope for the future. In 2022, Kathryn and Aaron shared with close family and friends that they had made the courageous decision to try again and were expecting their third baby boy. The Melton's 3rd pregnancy brought with it a wave of emotions, and cautious hopefulness. Kathryn again went into early labor and on September 8, 2022, baby brother Noah James' earthly journey was cut abruptly short as he joined his big brother James in heaven.

The Melton's continued forward, hands full with Jackson and hearts full of love for their angel babies.

Kathryn and Aaron knew they still wanted to expand their family, but without medical explanation as to why she experienced medical complications during her third trimester they looked towards Surrogacy. They worked with a boutique agency that connected them with a Gestational Carrier they were excited to move forward with on their journey. In March 2023, the Melton's had an unsuccessful embryo transfer to their Carrier and since then have been eagerly awaiting their second transfer planned for August 2024.

While awaiting a successful transfer, Kathryn and Aaron have been investing their savings into an escrow company to manage the finances, Surrogacy Escrow Account Management (SEAM). Surrogacy escrow account management companies are a typical part of a surrogacy agreement where intended parents deposit thousands of dollars to pay for the surrogate’s medical expenses into an account managed by a company.

Just a few weeks ago, while awaiting the second embryo transfer, Kathryn and Aaron were shocked to find out that their escrow account management company, SEAM, was under federal investigation after allegations that the company has been looting millions of dollars from hundreds of intended parents. The lawsuit asserts the founder defrauded clients by “luring them into a fiduciary relationship in order to steal their escrow funds.” This fraud has devastated hundreds of families, emotionally and financially. Kathryn and Aaron have no way to access the over $45,000 saved for medical expenses and have been given very little legal hope that they will ever be able to recoup those funds. All funds raised here will go to making up for that loss. You can read more from NBC Investigative Reporting here.

To know Kathryn and Aaron is to be in awe of their courage, their faith, and the hope they continue to hold in their hearts despite incomprehensible loss. Writing their story was impossible; their boys deserve pages not paragraphs, their hearts deserve hope not deception. If you can support them financially, any help will be a blessing. If you can support them emotionally, share their story, talk about James and Noah, and raise awareness on families of loss and the importance of surrogacy.

They deserve so much more from the world, we ask you to help us show them what they deserve.

With hope,

The Melton Babies Aunties & Uncles