Discovering the Power of a Purple Butterfly

When Millie Smith and Lewis Cann found out they were expecting twin baby girls, their joy was quickly overshadowed by heartbreaking news. One of the babies had a fatal condition called anencephaly and would not survive after birth.

On April 30, Smith gave birth to identical twins, Callie and Skye. While Skye lived for only three hours, Callie had to continue her journey in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), without her sister by her side.

In the NICU, a well-meaning mother of healthy newborn twins innocently remarked to Smith how lucky she was to not have two babies. Crushed by the comment and unable to find the words to explain her loss, Smith realized that Skye’s legacy was to help other families who experience the loss of a child. And it all began with a purple butterfly.

An Emotional Journey

The path to this meaningful symbol began when Smith and partner Lewis Cann discovered they were expecting their first child. Just weeks after the excitement of knowing they were having twins, the couple received devastating news during a routine scan. One of the babies had anencephaly, a serious birth defect that affects a small number of babies worldwide. Faced with the knowledge that one baby would pass shortly after birth, Smith and Cann made the difficult decision to continue with the high-risk pregnancy.

Smith and Cann named their twins Skye and Callie, knowing that Skye’s time with them would be brief. When the moment came for Smith to deliver her babies prematurely, she had the support of a bereavement midwife and the comfort of a special room called the “Daisy Room” where families can spend time with their babies before and after they pass away.

The Butterfly Symbol and its Meaning

Smith’s encounter with the well-meaning mother in the NICU led her to create a symbol that would prevent misunderstandings and provide support to parents who have lost a child. She designed a poster for the NICU, explaining that an incubator with a purple butterfly sticker indicates the loss of one or more babies in a set of multiples. The butterfly was chosen to represent the babies that flew away, while the color purple was selected for its gender-neutral nature.

The purple butterfly concept, now known as the Skye High Foundation, has spread to hospitals around the world, offering solace and understanding to grieving parents. Smith’s daughter, Callie, is now a lively seven-year-old, and her sister Skye’s memory lives on through purple butterfly cards and other initiatives that support families who have experienced the loss of a baby.

Spreading Awareness and Support

Losing a child at any age is an unimaginable pain for any parent. Millie Smith’s efforts to create support groups and establish symbols like the purple butterfly stickers help provide comfort to others facing similar losses. By sharing this story, we can ensure that more people understand and recognize what a purple butterfly near a newborn signifies.

If you found this story about Millie Smith and her twins compelling, you might also be interested in the remarkable tale of a mom who thought she was having seven babies but ended up with nine!