A Heartbreaking Loss Leads to a Symbol of Hope
Millie Smith and Lewis Cann were overjoyed when they learned they were expecting twins. Millie’s intuition about carrying two babies turned out to be true. However, their happiness was soon met with heartbreaking news: one of their babies had anencephaly, a condition where the brain and spinal cord don’t fully develop. Doctors told them their daughter would only live for minutes or hours after birth.

A Name with a Meaning
At 30 weeks, Millie gave birth to Skye and Callie. Knowing Skye’s time was short, they decided to name her before she passed. “We knew Skye needed a name before she was born,” Millie shared. They chose the name Skye, symbolizing a place they could always look up to and remember her.

Skye lived for three precious hours. Her parents spent that time holding her, admiring her, and cherishing her brief presence in their lives. Despite the heartbreak, they were proud of her strength.

Grief and Silence
After Skye’s passing, Millie and Lewis received support from a bereavement midwife and spent time with her in a “Daisy Room,” a private space for grieving families. But as weeks passed, people stopped talking about Skye. This silence made Millie feel as though her baby had been forgotten.
One day, another mother, unaware of Skye’s passing, made an innocent comment about Millie being lucky not to have twins. The remark deeply hurt her, highlighting how invisible her loss felt.

The Purple Butterfly Initiative
This inspired Millie to create the purple butterfly sticker—a simple way to indicate the loss of a baby in a set of multiples. It helps prevent unintentional pain for grieving families. Today, her idea has spread globally through The Skye High Foundation, supporting parents dealing with similar losses.
Callie, Skye’s twin, is now seven years old—a reminder of resilience and hope