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Influencer's Heartbreaking Loss: Two Daughters Gone Too Soon
23 Jun
Summary
- Influencer Melissa Mae Carlton lost two daughters, Abigail and Molly, to a rare genetic condition.
- Molly's death was recently explained by a postmortem diagnosis of PPA2, a mitochondrial disease.
- Carlton is channeling her grief into advocacy and legislative change for other families.
Influencer Melissa Mae Carlton has openly discussed the devastating loss of her two daughters, Abigail and Molly. Abigail died suddenly in 2024 at the age of 9. Tragically, her younger sister Molly passed away in February 2026 at the age of 5, with the family recently receiving a postmortem diagnosis.
Molly's death was attributed to PPA2, a genetic mitochondrial condition inherited from carrier parents, which Carlton believes was also the cause of Abigail's death. "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 stated.
Carlton shared her immense grief, describing the past six months since Christmas Day as "trying to survive while drowning." Despite the profound pain and challenges, she has also been quietly working on advocacy efforts, awareness initiatives, and legislative changes aimed at assisting other families facing similar circumstances. She expressed a desire to begin sharing her journey again, finding strength in her work and in remembering her daughters.
