Millie Smith always felt her pregnancy would be different, and when a scan confirmed she was expecting twins with Lewis Cann, their joy was overwhelming. But soon after, they received heartbreaking news: one of their babies had anencephaly, a condition that meant she would not live long after birth. Despite this, they chose to continue the pregnancy, determined to love both daughters fully.
They named their babies Callie and Skye, giving each child a place in their hearts before they were even born. At 30 weeks, Millie went into early labor. Against expectations, both girls cried when they arrived, giving their parents a brief but precious moment of completeness. Skye lived for three hours, passing away peacefully in her mother’s arms, leaving behind a profound and lasting grief.
While mourning Skye, Millie also cared for Callie in the neonatal intensive care unit. Over time, she noticed how easily people overlooked the loss of one twin. A passing comment from another parent—unaware of her story—made the pain even more real. In that moment, Millie realized that families like hers needed a way to be understood without having to explain their loss repeatedly.
From that realization came the purple butterfly symbol, a quiet sign placed on incubators to show that a baby is part of a multiple birth where a sibling has passed. Through the Skye High Foundation, this simple idea has spread worldwide, offering comfort, awareness, and silent compassion to grieving families.
