A family is enduring an unimaginable double tragedy after losing their second young daughter on Christmas Day, with both children suspected to have had an undiagnosed genetic heart condition.
A Mother's Heartbreaking Christmas Announcement
Melissa Mae Carlton and her husband Tom Carlton shared the devastating news that their youngest daughter, Molly, had died on 25 December. The couple, who also have children named Harry and Lily, are now grieving the loss of two daughters within months.
Melissa, an influencer who runs a faith-inspired art shop, posted on Instagram on Friday, 26 December. "On Christmas morning, our sweet Molly girl, and her big sister Abi were reunited," she wrote, referring to her eldest daughter Abigail's death in April 2024.
She revealed that Molly had often asked, "Mummy, when is Jesus coming back so Abi can come down?" expressing how deeply she missed her sister.
Searching for Answers in Tragedy
Abigail, known as Abi, was just nine years old when she passed away after a battle with sepsis. The family have not publicly revealed Molly's age or the official cause of her death.
However, in a further update on Saturday, 27 December, Melissa provided a critical medical insight. She explained that while they await an official diagnosis, doctors believe Molly had a genetic heart condition and suspect Abi may have had the same condition.
"This understanding came because Molly was able to be monitored in the hospital, which we were not able to do with Abi," Melissa wrote. "I've never felt satisfied with the answers we were given for her."
She shared this information believing it could be vital for other families who have experienced Sudden Unexpected Death in Children (SUDC). The mother explained that if Abi also had the condition, "any minor illness could potentially trigger a sudden cardiac event."
The Traumatic Events of Christmas Day
Molly died following a sudden hospitalisation on Christmas Day. Melissa recounted the desperate efforts to save her, noting small mercies amidst the chaos.
"Paramedics were stationed just three minutes away and arrived quickly," she said. "The paediatric trauma centre was only fifteen minutes from where we were. We were in the best possible place... Her little body fought so hard, but we've been told that this type of cardiac event is, in most cases, not survivable."
The emotional toll on the family is profound. Melissa described feeling "devastated," "in disbelief," and "exhausted and shaken after a day filled with trauma and heartbreak." She added, "I cannot yet accept that this is real. I am not ready for this pain."
Living with Grief and New Family Traditions
Melissa has spoken candidly about her grief since Abi's sudden death earlier in the year. In May, she shared a video reel showing Abigail's life, with text overlay stating, "Yesterday, I should have had a 10-year-old running down the stairs in the morning, eager to open her presents."
She revealed Abi was happy and playing with siblings the day before she fell ill with stomach pain and vomiting. Within three hours, she was gone, in what the parents initially thought was a routine bug.
The mother admitted the festive period is particularly painful. "It's 'supposed' to be the happiest time of year, but it just hurts," she wrote recently. "This is our second Christmas without her."
The family's approach to holidays has changed forever. Melissa wrote on 11 December that child loss taught her she no longer wants a "picture-perfect" home, but one that is "cozy" and "lived in."
They now embrace traditions in Abi's memory, including making 'Abi angels,' hanging childhood ornaments on the tree, and framing one of Abi's holiday pyjamas. "From now on, the tree is the kids' tree," Melissa stated. "All of their ornaments. Everything they've made for it."
"This is what Christmas looks like now," she concluded, a poignant testament to a family navigating an unbearable loss while seeking to help others through their own painful experience.
