Alena Smith shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Alena, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
Yes, I am most definitely walking a path! One built on faith, strength, perseverance, and gratitude. In the beginning, I didn’t fully understand where this journey would lead, but today the purpose is clearer than ever. This journey has led me to create Trust Your Strength, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering families with infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) through resilience, support, and essential resources.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a published author and the founder of Trust Your Strength, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families with premature and medically fragile infants. While I wears many hats, my most treasured roles are as a devoted wife to my husband of 16 years, Wendell Smith Jr., and a proud mother to our two sons Wendell III (14) and Charlie (8), whom we call our miracles.
Our family’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. We’ve faced the challenges of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) not once, but twice. Wendell was born at just 31 weeks weighing 3lbs 12 oz and spent 5 weeks in the NICU at Wake Med Hospital, and six years later, Charlie arrived at only 25 weeks, weighing a mere one pound. Charlie spent an astounding 328 days in the NICU at Northside Hospital and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta before finally coming home.
Motivated by their experience, I established Trust Your Strength, a purpose driven organization offering vital support to NICU families. Since its inception, the nonprofit has reached over 6,500 families, providing services such as transportation assistance, self-care packages, and mental health resources through wellness events. The organizations support extends across a growing network of hospitals, including Northside Hospital, Grady, all campuses of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Wellstar, WakeMed, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Levine Children’s Hospital, Connecticut Children’s Hospital, and more .
The organization’s powerful impact has received national recognition, with features on Good Morning America, Fox 5 Atlanta, USA Today, ABC News, and others. Now expanding its reach globally, I recently traveled to Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa, to provide support for families in underserved communities with limited access to hospital care and essential medical supplies. Our support directly helped families at Moscati Hospital and Hospital St. Joseph Moscati
With a deep understanding of the emotional and mental toll of the NICU experience, A has made it her mission to advocate for families particularly within the African American community. She speaks at conferences, hospital events, and panel discussions, addressing urgent topics such as maternal mortality, premature birth, and the critical need for postpartum mental health support.
Through her voice, her work, and her lived experience, Alena Smith is building a legacy of hope, compassion, and empowerment ensuring that no parent has to walk the NICU journey alone.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
God did! Through trials, tribulations, and losses, He revealed my purpose and gave me the strength to overcome what I thought might break me. When I faced miscarriages and endured the emotional roller coaster of the NICU journey with both of our boys, I couldn’t fully see who I was or what I was capable of. Yet in those moments, God was already shaping my path. He showed me that every obstacle was preparation and every challenge was refining me for the greater work He has called me to do.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
It was after our second NICU experience, when our youngest son spent 328 days in the hospital. During that time, we were balancing the challenges of caring for our oldest at home while navigating the fears and uncertainties of having a medically fragile child in the NICU. In those moments, I thought deeply about all the families who would endure the same emotional roller coaster and pain we were facing. I made a vow to God: if He saved our son again, I would use our story to bring hope, encouragement, and support to other families walking this journey.
That meant I had to speak out and be honest about some of my most vulnerable, fearful, and even angry moments. By sharing openly, I found that it gave other parents permission to do the same and it was also healing for me . What began as my personal testimony grew into a community of families supporting one another finding strength, comfort, and hope together in the midst of their journeys.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
Growing up, I was blessed with family members, mentors, coaches, and teachers from a young age through college who poured into me and instilled the importance of character and being a good person. Their example showed me the value of giving back and making a difference in others lives, just as they did in mine. Many of them had families of their own, yet they still went above and beyond to ensure I was working hard in school, striving for excellence, and reaching my fullest potential.
As an adult, those lessons taught me to do the same for others and to pay it forward. The ability to change someone’s life simply by showing up, investing in them, and making a positive impact is truly admirable a responsibility I carry with gratitude and purpose.
I am continually inspired by the character of our community, volunteers, and sponsors who show up to help keep our initiatives thriving, including businesses like Optimum Pediatric Services, The Turner Collective Real Estate Group, D. Brothers Realty, Smith Gourmet Creations Restaurant, Bundles For Babies, Play Pits, Father Movement, The Hawes Law Firm, Bien-Entre Foundation, VIPSocio Cote d’Ivoire and many more. Their support allows Trust Your Strength to continue making a meaningful difference in the lives of the families we serve.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That I lived with no regrets, traveling, pursuing my dreams, and accomplishing everything I set out to do. But beyond my own journey, I hope people will say that I lived a life of purpose, that I used my experiences to bring hope, healing, and strength to others. I want my story to be one of faith and perseverance, showing that even through challenges, something beautiful can be born. Most of all, I hope people remember that I showed up for others, that I created spaces for NICU families to feel seen, supported, and never alone. If my life reminds even one person to trust their own strength, then I’ll know I fulfilled my purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://trustyourstrength.org
- Instagram: Trust_Your_Strength
- Facebook: Trust_Your_Strength
Image Credits
TK Consulting & Design Agency
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