2026: Mollea Hood
Mollea Hood was born via emergency C-section on September 14, 2012 at 25 weeks, considered a micro-preemie, because of serious medical complications suffered by her mom Ashlea Hood. At 25 weeks, Ashlea experienced severe preeclampsia leading to a condition called HELLP, a rare, life-threatening pregnancy complication that puts both mama and baby at significant risk. Because the condition is triggered by the pregnancy itself, the only definitive cure is the prompt delivery of the baby.
Mollea weighed less than 2 pounds and was just at 11 inches long - a micro preemie indeed! She spent almost her first full year of life in NICU and PICU. She experienced a brain bleed early on as well as other complications often associated with such a premature birth. She would eventually be diagnosed with cerebral palsy and developmental delays. She required a tracheostomy and a tracheal tube to breathe for several years post-birth, as well as a feeding tube for nutrition. Her mom Ashlea also experienced ongoing complications and lost function of both kidneys within the first year and a half following Mollea’s birth, prompting her own medical journey on dialysis as she awaited the possibility of a kidney transplant, a procedure that would have dramatically improved her quality of life and life expectancy.
On June 11, 2020, Ashlea lost her battle against the kidney disease and related complications that resulted from the issues she experienced while pregnant with Mollea. Mollea was seven years old. But in those seven years, Ashlea had provided Mollea with every available resource to ensure Mollea could live a healthy and fulfilling life with the highest level of independence possible. Because of Ashlea’s pursuit of independence for her daughter, today Mollea is trach-free and able to enjoy many aspects of life that would not have been otherwise possible.
Ashlea’s parents Jeff and Christina received guardianship of Mollea in July 2020. They have taken over where Ashlea left off, providing Mollea with love and support to continue growing and learning and achieving just as Ashlea always wanted for her. She attends St Lillian Academy in Baton Rouge, a school for students with communication and learning challenges. She has great friends and enjoys traditional subjects like math and science as well as extracurriculars like music and art. She has inherited some of the Hood musical gene and loves to show off her skills at school music performances. She is a hype girl for all around her with her contagious smile and outgoing personality. She is an adrenaline junkie like her mom - the faster, louder, scarier….the better. Perhaps most of all, she is a fighter…
Since the moment she was born, she has had to fight very hard to do things that come naturally to many others. From crawling to walking to running… from early speech disorders to now regaling her family with her stories from school and her adventures…. From needing every possible care available as a baby to now being the ultimate babydoll caregiver….. She has accepted every challenge thrown her way and thrived! When faced with their own struggles, she is an absolute inspiration to her family. And while they miss her mom Ashlea every single day, they can see her spirit in Mollea and know she is smiling down from above.
Finally, it is particularly special that as we are here today celebrating Mollea, we are also honoring her uncle and Ashlea’s brother, Justan Hood on his 10-year anniversary of volunteer service to Swollfest. It is bittersweet for the family, as this weekend marks the 6th anniversary of Ashlea’s passing. Jeff and Christina distinctly remember having had close friends at Swollfest that year who left immediately to be with them.
But rather than a sorrowful reminder of the grief of that connection, Swollfest is to them, as it is to many of you here, a time to appreciate how important family and friendship are. They ask that you look left and look right and hug those you love. And when you see Mollea tonight, be sure to give her a high-five, make a new friend, and catch a glimpse of that contagious smile!
Let’s all give a standing ovation for the Hood family. They are near and dear to many of us here at Swollfest and welcome Mollea Hood as our 2026 Swollfest Inspirational Award recipient.