Influencer Melissa Mae Carlton announces death of daughter Molly one year after sister

Melissa Mae Carlton has shared that her youngest daughter, Molly, died on Christmas Day, just over a year after the death of her older sister Abigail.

The influencer confirmed the news in an Instagram post on December 26, explaining that Molly’s death came approximately 18 months after Abigail died from sepsis in April 2024 at the age of nine. Reflecting on the loss, Melissa wrote, “On Christmas morning, our sweet Molly girl, and her big sister Abi were reunited.”

She described the reunion as the only source of comfort amid her grief, adding, “This is the only thing giving me even a small sense of comfort. Molly missed her sister so deeply.” Melissa said she and her husband Tom Carlton, who are also parents to Harry and Lily, were “devastated” and “in disbelief.”

“We are exhausted and shaken after a day filled with trauma and heartbreak,” she wrote. “I feel numb. I cannot yet accept that this is real. I am not ready for this pain.” She asked followers to continue offering support in the “days and weeks ahead,” noting that the family would need “strength beyond our own.”

Melissa also shared a moment recalled by her son Harry. “Last night, through tears, Harry told me that when we boarded the plane to Arizona on Monday, Molly leaned over and told him she wanted to be with Abi,” she wrote. “Through sobs, he said, ‘She got what she wanted.’”

In a later update, Melissa said doctors believe Molly may have had a genetic heart condition, which they now think may also have affected Abigail. “This understanding came because Molly was able to be monitored in the hospital,” she explained, adding that such events are often “not survivable.”

“I hope we will get more answers soon,” she said.