The Legacy of Love: How One Mother’s Loss Sparked a Global Movement
When Millie Smith and her partner Lewis Cann discovered they were expecting twins, their joy was immeasurable. However, their happiness soon turned to heartbreak when they learned that one of their baby girls wouldn’t survive due to a rare and fatal condition. What followed was a journey of love, loss, and a mission to help other families cope with similar tragedies.
The Joyful Beginning
In November 2015, Millie Smith and Lewis Cann learned they were expecting their first child. Smith, who had twins in her family, had a strong intuition she might be carrying two babies. Ten weeks into her pregnancy, a scan confirmed her feeling—they were expecting identical twin girls.
The couple was overjoyed, already envisioning their future with two daughters. They began planning their lives as parents of twins, but their excitement was short-lived.
A Devastating Diagnosis
Just two weeks after discovering they were having twins, a routine scan brought devastating news. During the appointment, the doctor’s silence raised red flags. Smith, excitedly watching her babies on the screen, quickly realized something was wrong.
The doctor revealed that one of the twins had anencephaly, a rare condition affecting approximately one in 4,600 babies in the United States. This severe birth defect prevents parts of the brain and skull from developing, making survival beyond birth nearly impossible.
The couple was heartbroken. They were faced with a high-risk pregnancy, knowing that one of their daughters would not survive and that complications could also jeopardize the life of the surviving twin.
Finding Strength in Love
Despite the devastating news, Smith and Cann decided to continue with the pregnancy. They named their twins Skye and Callie, giving Skye her name so she could be remembered and honored during her brief life.
“Skye represents somewhere we could always look up to and remember her,” Smith explained.
On April 30, at just 30 weeks, Smith delivered her twins via emergency C-section. Thanks to the support of a bereavement midwife, the family had access to a special room called the Daisy Room. This space allowed them to spend precious moments with Skye both before and after she passed.
A Brief But Precious Life
Against all odds, both babies cried when they were born—an unexpected moment of joy, as doctors had predicted Skye wouldn’t make any noise. Skye lived for three hours, during which her parents held and cuddled her, cherishing every second.
“We were cuddling Skye when she passed away,” Smith recalled. “It was the worst moment of our lives, but I am so proud that she fought to spend those hours with us.”
Meanwhile, Callie, born premature, was placed in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where she began her fight to grow stronger.
A Painful Misunderstanding
In the NICU, Callie shared the space with other newborns, including three sets of twins. Most of the nurses were aware of Skye’s passing, but over time, the topic faded into the background. Other families in the unit were unaware of the couple’s loss.
One day, a stressed mother of twins innocently remarked to Smith, “You’re so lucky not to have two babies.”
The comment, though harmless in intent, struck a painful chord. Smith was too overwhelmed to explain her situation and left the room in tears. “They weren’t to know that I did have two babies at one point,” she said. “But that comment nearly broke me. A simple sticker could have avoided that entire situation.”
The Birth of the Purple Butterfly
That moment of pain became the catalyst for something beautiful. Smith decided to create a symbol that could silently communicate the loss of a baby in a set of multiples. She designed a purple butterfly sticker, which could be placed on an incubator to signify that one or more babies in the set had passed away.
“I chose butterflies because they represent the babies that ‘flew away,’ and purple because it’s a gender-neutral color,” Smith explained.
The idea quickly gained traction. Hospitals across the world adopted the symbol, using it to foster understanding and compassion in NICUs. What began as a small initiative blossomed into the Skye High Foundation, named in honor of the twin who inspired it all.
Callie’s Journey
Today, Callie is a thriving seven-year-old, a bright and happy child who carries her sister’s legacy in her heart. Through the foundation, the memory of Skye continues to touch lives.
The purple butterfly now appears in various forms, from stickers and posters to blankets, ornaments, and stuffed animals. These items serve as gentle reminders of the babies who left too soon and the families who continue to cherish their memories.
Spreading Compassion and Awareness
Millie Smith’s mission goes beyond creating symbols. Through support groups and awareness campaigns, she hopes to help families navigate the unimaginable grief of losing a child.
“Ultimately, I can’t stop these tragedies from happening,” she said. “But the more support we can provide and the more awareness we raise, the better it will be for grieving families.”
Honoring Skye’s Legacy
The purple butterfly initiative has brought comfort to countless families around the world. It provides a way for parents to feel seen and supported in their grief while also fostering understanding among those who might not know how to approach such sensitive topics.
Smith’s work reminds us that even the smallest lives can leave the biggest impact. Skye’s three hours on Earth have inspired a global movement of compassion and understanding, ensuring that no parent has to grieve alone or feel invisible in their loss.
A Story of Resilience and Hope
Losing a child is one of the hardest experiences a parent can endure, but Smith and Cann turned their heartbreak into a force for good. Their story is a testament to the power of love, resilience, and the enduring impact of even the briefest lives.
The next time you see a purple butterfly, remember the families it represents and the strength it takes to turn grief into hope. By sharing stories like Skye’s, we can ensure that no parent’s loss goes unnoticed and that every child’s life, no matter how short, is celebrated.
If you’ve been touched by this story, consider sharing it with others to spread awareness of the purple butterfly and the Skye High Foundation’s mission to support grieving families.
