Unlocking the Mystery: The Significance of a Purple Butterfly Sticker Near a Newborn
In just a matter of weeks after Millie Smith and Lewis Cann joyously anticipated the arrival of twin baby girls, a heartbreaking truth unfolded: only one would embark on the journey ahead.
On April 30th, following a delicate 30-week pregnancy, Smith delivered identical twins, Callie and Skye. Tragically, Skye’s fragile life slipped away within a mere three hours.
In the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Callie lay alone in her incubator while her loving but grieving parents kept watch. Amidst the bustle of newborns, an oblivious mother of healthy twins unknowingly remarked on her luck, sending a wave of pain through Smith, who struggled to express her profound sorrow.
Amidst her despair, Smith discovered Skye’s enduring legacy embodied in a delicate purple butterfly.
In November 2015, Smith and Cann joyfully received news of impending parenthood. But their elation was short-lived when they learned that one twin had a devastating condition, anencephaly, ensuring her brief life.
As Smith and Cann grappled with the heart-wrenching certainty of one baby’s impending loss and the risks to the other, they resolved to continue the high-risk pregnancy.
Over months, the twins-to-be were named Skye and Callie, the name a symbol of a perpetual presence. Premature labor led to an emergency C-section on April 30th, and although Skye’s life was fleeting, her impact profound.
While Callie remained in the NICU, Skye’s memory faded until an innocent comment from another mother brought Smith’s grief to the forefront, prompting her to create a symbol—a purple butterfly—that would prevent such misunderstandings.
The Skye High Foundation now champions this symbol, spreading awareness globally. Callie, now seven, embodies her sister’s memory through initiatives aiding families like theirs.
Millie Smith’s journey stands as a testament to resilience and compassion, a beacon of hope in the face of unimaginable loss.
Please share this narrative to illuminate the significance of a purple butterfly beside a newborn’s incubator.
