Influencer Melissa Mae Carlton has returned to social media less than three months after the tragic and sudden death of her youngest daughter, Molly.
“On December 25th, I came on here and asked the 30-something-thousand people who were following me to pray on their knees for a miracle,” Carlton wrote via her Instagram Stories on Friday, February 6. “Today, I’m asking again if you would please pray for our family as we bury our sweet little Molly today because I believe in the power of prayer.”
She continued, “Please pray that we will be uplifted and have angels around us to get us through this day. We are really hurting. Thank you for all of the prayers and for every temple prayer all we have been put on. I love you all. If you would like to, wear pink today with us.”
Melissa and her husband, Tom Carlton, announced in December 2025 that their daughter Molly died after experiencing an unknown health complication. (The Carltons are also parents of daughter Lily, son Harry and daughter Abigail, who died in April 2024 at the age of 9.)
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“On Christmas morning, our sweet Molly girl, and her big sister Abi were reunited,” Melissa wrote in an Instagram statement. “We are devastated. In disbelief. Confused and in shock. We are exhausted and shaken after a day filled with trauma and heartbreak.”
She continued, “I feel numb. I cannot yet accept that this is real. I am not ready for this pain. … I am scared of what life looks like now for us. I am heartbroken for our children.”
Melissa went on to explain that she hadn’t received an “official diagnosis” that may shed insight into Molly’s cause of death.
“The doctors believe Molly had a genetic heart condition and suspect this may have been the case with Abi, as well,” she wrote in a follow-up post that same month. “I’m sharing this because I believe it could be critical information for families who have experienced SUDC (sudden unexpected death in children). This understanding came because Molly was able to be monitored in the hospital, which we were not able to do with Abi. I’ve never felt satisfied with the answers we were given for her. But this type of condition, we’ve been told that even a minor illness could potentially trigger a sudden cardiac event.”
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She continued, “That morning, we witnessed many small miracles. Paramedics were stationed just three minutes away and arrived quickly. The pediatric trauma centre was only fifteen minutes from where we were. We were in the best possible place, with everything aligned for the best conditions and the best outcome.”
According to Melissa, Molly’s “little body fought so hard.”
“We’ve been told that this type of cardiac event is, in most cases, not survivable,” the influencer stated. “I hope we will get more answers soon and will be doing more genetic investigation for our family now we have possibly a clearer avenue to explore.”
Melissa had since taken a step back from posting social media content in light of Molly’s death.
