When Millie Smith and Lewis Cann learned they were expecting twins, their joy knew no bounds. With a family history of twins, Millie had a feeling she was carrying two babies.
Her intuition was correct. The ultrasound confirmed her suspicion but also delivered heartbreaking news – one of the babies had anencephaly, a terminal disorder affecting nervous system development.
Despite the devastating prognosis, Millie and Lewis were determined to cherish every moment with their precious daughters. They named their little angel Skye, a name symbolizing a forever place in their hearts. Skye lived for a fleeting three hours, during which her parents showered her with love, marveled at her beauty, and treasured her presence in their lives.
After Skye’s passing, Millie felt profound isolation, as if her baby had been erased from the world. Memories of Skye gradually faded from conversations, leaving Millie feeling unseen in her grief. This lack of acknowledgment deepened her heartache. Millie yearned for a way to publicly honor Skye and ensure no one else endured this crushing silence.
Driven by this desire, she conceived a simple yet profound solution – a sticker for incubators featuring a purple butterfly, symbolizing the loss of one or more babies in a set of multiples. Butterflies represent the babies that flew away, while the color purple signifies both boys and girls. This initiative blossomed into The Skye High Foundation, a platform raising awareness and supporting families who have faced similar losses.
Millie’s foundation has reached hospitals worldwide, spreading the message of the purple butterfly initiative. It offers a range of purple butterfly merchandise, including meaningful gifts and accessories. Through this foundation, Millie aims to provide solace to grieving parents and establish support networks to ease the pain of losing a child.
“While I cannot prevent this tragedy, creating a support system and initiatives like the butterfly stickers can make a significant difference. Losing a child is one of life’s most heartbreaking experiences,” Millie shared.
Today, Millie’s other daughter, Callie, is a vibrant seven-year-old. Millie’s journey from heartbreak to empowerment stands as a testament to a mother’s love and resilience. Though Skye may be gone, her memory lives on through the purple butterfly initiative, offering comfort and understanding to families during their darkest hours.