Only weeks after Millie Smith and Lewis Cann learned they were having twin baby girls, they received devastating news – only one would survive. After 30 weeks of a high-risk pregnancy, Smith delivered identical twins, Callie and Skye. Sadly, Skye passed away just three hours after birth.
In the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Callie slept alone in her incubator, while her heartbroken parents watched over her. During this time, a mom of healthy newborn twins innocently commented to Smith about how “lucky” she was to only have one baby. Crushed by the words, Smith couldn’t find the right response to explain her loss. But then she realized that Skye’s legacy could be to help other families who have experienced the same tragedy.
And so, the purple butterfly came into existence. In November 2015, Millie Smith and Lewis Cann found out they were expecting twin girls. Despite the excitement, they soon learned that one of their babies had a fatal condition called anencephaly, which affects about one in 4,600 babies in the U.S. This birth defect causes a baby to be born without parts of the brain and skull, and most babies with anencephaly do not survive long after birth.
Despite the heartbreaking news, Smith and Cann decided to move forward with the extremely high-risk pregnancy. They named their twins Skye and Callie, and even though they knew Skye would only have a few moments of life, they wanted her to have a name. The name “Skye” was chosen because it represented a place where they could always look up and remember their baby.
When the twins were born prematurely at 30 weeks, they were greeted with both tears and joy. Skye, who was not expected to make a noise or move, surprised everyone by crying. Millie and Lewis cherished the precious three hours they had with Skye before she passed away.
While Callie stayed in the NICU to gain strength, the couple noticed that people around them eventually stopped talking about Skye. One day, a mother in the NICU innocently remarked to Smith about how “lucky” she was to not have twins. This comment, though harmless, broke Smith’s heart and made her realize the need for something that could communicate the loss of a baby in a set of multiples.
And so, the purple butterfly concept was born. Smith designed a poster for the NICU, explaining that any incubator with a purple butterfly sticker meant that one or more babies in a set of multiples had been lost. The choice of butterflies was symbolic, representing the babies that “flew away,” and the color purple was chosen because it is suitable for both boys and girls.
The purple butterfly concept, now known as the Skye High Foundation, has spread to hospitals worldwide. Callie, now a lively and happy seven-year-old, keeps her twin’s memory alive through purple butterfly cards and various initiatives to help families who have experienced similar losses.
Millie Smith’s mission is to create support groups and raise awareness to make this difficult experience a little easier for parents. Losing a child is a heart-wrenching experience, but Millie’s efforts can help provide comfort and understanding to others facing this devastating reality.
Please spread the word about the purple butterfly and what it represents, so more people can be aware of its significance.
