A Heartbreaking Journey

Only weeks after Millie Smith and Lewis Cann discovered they were expecting twin girls, they learned that only one would survive.

The Tragic News

On April 30, after enduring a high-risk pregnancy for 30 weeks, Smith delivered identical twins, Callie and Skye. Tragically, Skye lived only three hours.

Coping with Loss

In the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Callie rested alone in an incubator while her grieving parents watched over her. Among the other families, a mother of healthy twins unknowingly told Smith, “You’re so lucky not to have two babies.”

Smith was devastated by the comment and struggled to articulate her grief. She then realized that Skye’s legacy could help other families facing similar losses, symbolized by a purple butterfly.

The Beginning

In November 2015, Millie Smith and Lewis Cann discovered they were expecting their first child. Smith, with twins in her family, had a “gut feeling” about having twins, which was confirmed ten weeks later.

However, their joy was short-lived. Just weeks after learning they would have twins, they faced the heartbreaking news that one baby had a fatal condition and wouldn’t survive.

The Diagnosis

During the scan, the doctor’s silence confirmed Smith’s fears. Doctors diagnosed the baby with anencephaly, a severe birth defect affecting about one in 4,600 babies, where the baby is born without parts of the brain and skull. “Almost all babies with anencephaly die shortly after birth,” according to the CDC.

Preparing for the Inevitable

Despite the grim prognosis and the risks to their surviving baby, Smith and Cann chose to continue with the high-risk pregnancy. They named their twins Skye and Callie, intending to honor Skye’s brief life with a meaningful name.

A Special Name

Smith chose “Skye” to represent a place where they could always look up and remember their baby.

The Birth

When Smith went into labor at 30 weeks, an emergency C-section was necessary. A “bereavement midwife” assisted during the birth, and they spent time with Skye in the “Daisy Room,” a special space for families.

Despite the prognosis, both girls cried at birth, a moment Smith cherished. “We were cuddling Skye when she passed away. It was the worst moment in our lives, but I’m proud she fought for her time with us.”

The NICU Experience

Premature Callie stayed in the NICU to gain strength. While many nurses were aware of the situation, others gradually stopped mentioning Skye. One morning, another mother’s innocent comment about being “lucky” not to have twins left Smith heartbroken.

Creating Awareness

Realizing the need for awareness, Smith created a poster for the NICU to explain that a purple butterfly sticker on an incubator signifies a lost baby in a set of multiples.

The Purple Butterfly Legacy

Smith chose butterflies to symbolize babies who had “flown away” and purple for its neutrality. The Skye High Foundation now spreads the purple butterfly concept to hospitals worldwide.

Moving Forward

Callie, now a vibrant seven-year-old, keeps her sister’s memory alive through purple butterfly cards and various initiatives. Smith hopes to provide support to families through these symbols and resources.

Sharing the Story

Please share this story to help others understand the meaning behind a purple butterfly sticker next to a newborn.

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