Millie Smith and Lewis Cann were overjoyed to learn they were expecting twin girls, but their happiness was tempered by devastating news: only one of the twins would survive.
Smith gave birth to identical twins, Callie and Skye, on April 30 after a high-risk pregnancy that lasted 30 weeks. Sadly, Skye lived for only three hours.
In the absence of her twin, Callie spent the night in the NICU incubator, watched over by her loving and grief-stricken parents.
A mother of healthy twins later remarked to Smith that she was “so lucky” not to have two infants. This comment deeply hurt the new mother. However, a purple butterfly sticker spotted by Smith gave her a purpose and turned her grief into a mission to comfort other grieving parents.
Millie Smith and Lewis Cann welcomed their first child in November 2015. Given that Smith has a family history of twins, she had a strong feeling that she was carrying more than one baby. Their joy turned to concern when a scan revealed a problem.
“The doctor remained silent during the scan. Although we were excited to see our babies, we sensed something was wrong,” Smith recalled.
The doctors later informed them that one of the babies had anencephaly, a fatal condition. The couple decided to continue with the high-risk pregnancy, knowing that one of their babies would likely not survive long after birth.
Despite the heartbreaking diagnosis, Smith and Cann named their daughters Skye and Callie. They wanted Skye to have a name before her brief life ended.
On April 30, Smith went into labor prematurely, requiring an emergency C-section. Skye and Callie were born, and to their parents’ surprise, both babies cried at birth, although Skye’s cries were short-lived.
The couple was provided with a bereavement midwife and a special room called the “Daisy Room” to spend time with Skye before and after her passing.
Callie, although premature like her fellow NICU residents, showed resilience and was one of the surviving twins.
Smith noticed that people around her, including NICU staff, seemed to forget about Skye as time passed. This led to an unfortunate comment from another mother, who innocently remarked to Smith that she was “so lucky” not to have twins.
Smith was devastated by the comment and realized the need for a clear indicator to inform others about the loss of a twin. She designed a poster featuring a purple butterfly symbol to place on NICU incubators, signifying the loss of one or more babies in a set of multiples.
“I chose butterflies to represent the babies that ‘flew away,’ and the color purple because it is gender-neutral,” explained Smith.
The Skye High Foundation, which manages the purple butterfly initiative, has expanded the program to hospitals worldwide.
Now 7 years old, Callie is a vibrant and joyful child. Her memory lives on through the purple butterfly initiative and various support programs for families who have experienced similar losses.
Purple butterfly merchandise is available, with proceeds supporting the foundation’s mission.
Smith hopes that by raising awareness and providing support, she can help ease the pain of parents who have lost a child.
Millie Smith’s compassion and initiative serve as a beacon of hope for grieving families everywhere. Please SHARE this story to spread awareness of what a purple butterfly next to a newborn signifies!
