Additional Coverage:
- Influencer Melissa Mae Carlton loses youngest child just 20 months after daughter, 9, died of sepsis (themirror.com)
Local social media personality Melissa Mae Carlton and her husband, Tom, are mourning the tragic loss of their younger daughter, Molly, who passed away on Christmas Day. This marks the second child the couple has lost this year, following the death of their older daughter, Abi, in April.
Melissa, known for her faith-inspired art shop, shared the heartbreaking news with her followers on December 26, accompanied by a carousel of family photos. In her emotional caption, she revealed that Molly had been reunited with her older sister, Abi, a thought that offered her a “small sense of comfort.”
Abi passed away at nine years old after a battle with sepsis. Melissa and Tom are also parents to a son, Harry, and another daughter, Lily.
“On Christmas morning, our sweet Molly girl, and her big sister Abi were reunited,” Melissa wrote. “This is the only thing giving me even a small sense of comfort.
Molly missed her sister so deeply. She would often ask me, ‘Mummy, when is Jesus coming back so Abi can come down?’
We are devastated. In disbelief.
Confused and in shock. We are exhausted and shaken after a day filled with trauma and heartbreak.”
The influencer continued to express her profound grief, stating, “I feel numb. I cannot yet accept that this is real.
I am not ready for this pain.” She acknowledged the outpouring of prayers and support from her community, pleading for them to continue in the difficult days and weeks ahead as they face the immense task of organizing and processing their loss.
Melissa also shared a poignant detail, recalling her husband’s account of Molly leaning over to him on a plane and expressing her desire “to be with Abi.”
The family has been overwhelmed by the condolences and prayers received. Melissa explained that she initially shared the situation with her followers because she “believed in the power of prayer” and hoped “God could grant a miracle if it was His will.”
While an official diagnosis for Molly’s passing is pending, doctors suspect she had a genetic heart condition, a condition they now believe may have also affected Abi. The family was informed that this type of cardiac event is “in most cases, not survivable.”