Influencer Melissa Mae Carlton has been candid about navigating the loss of her two daughters.
In 2024, the content creator shared that her daughter Abigail died suddenly at age 9. Nearly two years later, Carlton’s daughter Molly died at age 5. (Carlton also shares daughter Lily and son Harry with husband Tom.)
Shortly following Molly’s death, Carlton shared that the family got answers about her daughter’s health in a postmortem diagnosis. Molly was suffering from PPA2, a “genetic mitochondrial condition” that is passed down by parents who are carriers.
“Almost four months later, we now have a diagnosis for Molly, and we’re almost 100 percent certain that it’s the same condition that Abigail had,” Carlton said in an Instagram video.
Scroll down to see the influencer’s quotes about grief:
‘We Are Really Hurting’
The family laid daughter Molly to rest in February 2026. Ahead of the service, Carlton asked her followers to pray for the family and wear pink in honor of Molly.
“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 shared via her Instagram Stories. “We are really hurting.”
‘Count Backwards Instead of Forwards’
Two years after Abigail’s death, Carlton honored her late daughter with a tribute on Instagram and shared her perspective.
“April 11th, 2024 was the first worst day of our lives. I spend so much of my time trying to remember you, while at the same time trying to pretend this isn’t real,” Carlton wrote via Instagram in April 2026. “I try to remember to count backwards instead of forwards. We’re getting closer to you, not further away. I was able to be a part of the Life After Loss Conference a couple of weeks ago at BYU and I loved how @hankrsmith Smith said it ‘the day they die is the furthest away you will ever be from them.’”
She concluded, “Two years closer to you, Abi 🥹. My cousin had a dream about her last night running around laughing and smiling. I think I can see her doing just that 🩵🩵.”
‘Trying to Survive While Drowning’
In an Instagram message shared in June 2026, Carlton described the emotional weight she has been carrying since her daughters died.
“I know I haven’t said much since Christmas Day, but it will come,” Carlton wrote. “The last almost six months have felt like trying to survive while drowning.”
Carlton shared that the family is “dealing with grief, uncertainty, things I can’t publicly discuss, and challenges that have tested us in every possible way.”
“There have been some incredibly painful things behind the scenes,” she continued. “But there have also been some incredible things happening too.”
“I’ve been quietly working on advocacy efforts, awareness initiatives, legislative change and projects that I believe can help other families,” she wrote. “It’s hard to be vulnerable here right now, but I want to start talking again.”
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