We are pleased to feature Molly as our May Tubie Hero—a remarkable young person whose journey is defined by resilience, purpose, and compassion.
At LumaCleanCares, we are constantly inspired by stories of perseverance and innovation within the healthcare community. It’s often how we identify unmet gaps in patient care, and design innovative medical solutions.
One such story is that of Molly Yeselson. Molly is a remarkable young person whose journey is defined by resilience, purpose, and compassion. From a young age, Molly faced complex health challenges, and during college, she began relying on both TPN and tube feeds. Now, at 26, she’s not only a passionate patient advocate, but also a dedicated scholar and tireless volunteer.
Molly’s story is one of strength, empowerment, and unwavering determination—and it’s only just beginning. Read on to learn more about her inspiring path.
As a child, Molly faced ongoing health challenges—but at just 16 years old, her condition took a dramatic turn. While in college, she was admitted to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where she began receiving both TPN (total parenteral nutrition) and tube feeds. Molly lives with Mitochondrial Disease, among other complex medical conditions.
Despite these challenges, Molly pursued her education with unwavering determination. As a student at Scripps College, she was passionate about learning and committed to earning her degree. But in 2018, before remote learning was widely available, she was forced to take medical leave due to severe complications—including life-threatening liver failure.
Then came the COVID-19 pandemic—and with it, a shift to virtual learning. Molly seized the opportunity to rejoin her academic journey through Zoom, completing her coursework and graduating in May 2023 with a BA in Writing and Rhetoric.
But her academic path doesn’t end there. This summer, Molly will begin her Master’s program at Georgetown University, where she’ll study Health and the Public Interest. Her passion for patient advocacy continues to drive her—she’s on a mission to reshape the healthcare system and ensure that the patient voice is not only heard, but valued.
Through the highs and lows of her health journey, Molly has emerged as a powerful advocate for the Tubie Community—using her voice to make a difference through speaking engagements, published writing, consulting, and volunteer work.
To date, Molly has dedicated more than 600 hours volunteering with organizations such as Children’s National Hospital, the Global Engineered Device Supplier Association (GEDSA), Dance Marathon, , and Scripps College’s COVID-19 Student Advisory Group, among others.
She has spoken multiple times at the ASPEN (American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition) conference, most recently delivering a talk titled “From Coast to Coast: One Nationwide Team’s Approach to Helping Patients Thrive Despite the Exceptional Challenges Faced by Young Adults With Intestinal Failure.” At GEDSA, Molly holds a unique role as the sole patient representative on the ENFit® Clinical Advisory Board—ensuring that the patient voice remains central in every decision.
For Molly, volunteerism is not just about giving back—it’s about creating connection and hope. In one powerful moment, she encountered a mother crying over her 11-day-old baby who needed a feeding tube. Molly gently lifted her shirt to show her own tube and said, “This doesn’t define me, and it won’t define your child either.” It was a moment that reaffirmed her impact.
She’s also supported fellow patients navigating the challenges of feeding tube life—helping them access resources like the Oley Foundation, Facebook support groups, and must-have supplies.
Through it all, Molly’s lived experience has become a bridge to support, empower, and uplift others facing similar paths.
Molly is 100% TPN-dependent; however, she does use a G and J tube for drainage. She originally found the EnClean® Brush online and now uses it as a regular part of her routine. She says, “It helps get the gunk unstuck; I also like that it has a lanyard that I can hang on my IV pole or in my room so it stays clean.”
She said it’s a good example of a product that she can tell other Tubies about. Beyond that, she had words of wisdom for others on parenteral and/or enteral nutrition who are navigating the way forward.
“It’s your own journey,” she said. “It won’t be the same as anyone else's. You have to focus on you. Have friends and activities that have nothing to do with being sick. You can find a good quality of life once you find the right team to support you. [Your illness] doesn’t have to be something that will hold you back if you don’t let it.”
