The news was devastating for Millie Smith and Lewis Cann. They were told that one of their unborn twins, Skye, had a fatal condition called anencephaly, a rare birth defect where the baby is born without parts of the brain and skull. Skye’s condition meant that she would not survive long after birth.
Despite the heartbreaking prognosis, Millie carried on with her pregnancy, cherishing every moment she had with her twin daughters, Callie and Skye. On April 30, the twins were born prematurely at 30 weeks. Tragically, Skye passed away just three hours after birth, leaving her parents and sister heartbroken.
Amid their grief, Millie and Lewis received a comment from another mother of newborn twins, expressing how lucky they were to only have one baby to care for. This insensitive remark deeply hurt Millie, leaving her speechless and unsure of how to respond.
However, Millie found solace and purpose in a small but meaningful symbol: a purple butterfly. She saw it as a sign from Skye, a way for her twin sister to comfort other grieving parents. This inspired Millie to create a charity called “Skye High Foundation,” dedicated to supporting families who have experienced baby loss and raising awareness about anencephaly.
Despite the pain of losing Skye, Millie and Lewis have found strength in honoring their daughter’s memory and helping others who have gone through similar experiences.
Millie Smith and Lewis Cann’s journey took a heartbreaking turn when they received the devastating news during a routine scan that one of their unborn babies had a severe condition called anencephaly. Anencephaly is a rare birth defect where the baby is born without parts of the brain and skull, and the prognosis is typically fatal.
Despite the grim prognosis, Millie and Lewis made the courageous decision to continue with the pregnancy, knowing that one of their daughters, Skye, would likely not survive long after birth. They chose to give both their daughters meaningful names: Skye, for the baby who would only live for a short time, and Callie, for their surviving daughter.
For Millie and Lewis, naming Skye before her birth was important, as they wanted her to have an identity and significance during her brief existence. The name “Skye” held special meaning for them, symbolizing a place where their baby would always be, allowing them to look up at the sky and remember her.
On April 30, Millie went into labor at just 30 weeks gestation, leading to an emergency C-section. The premature birth marked the beginning of an emotional journey for the couple, as they welcomed their twin daughters into the world under difficult circumstances.
Millie Smith and Lewis Cann faced an incredibly difficult journey after the birth of their twin daughters, Skye and Callie. Despite the devastating diagnosis of anencephaly for Skye, they chose to cherish every moment they had with her, making memories that would last a lifetime. The support they received from the hospital, including a bereavement midwife and the use of a Daisy Room, helped them navigate the heartbreaking experience of losing their daughter.
Spending three precious hours with Skye before she passed away allowed Millie and Lewis to create lasting memories with their daughter. However, navigating life in the NICU with their surviving daughter, Callie, presented its own set of challenges. Despite the well-intentioned comments of others, Millie felt the weight of her loss in moments when Skye’s absence went unnoticed.
Determined to prevent other parents from experiencing similar oversights, Millie created the purple butterfly initiative, a simple yet powerful symbol to signify the loss of one or more babies in a set of multiples. This initiative has since expanded to hospitals around the world, providing comfort and support to families experiencing similar grief.
Through the Skye High Foundation and the purple butterfly initiative, Millie continues to honor the memory of her daughter Skye while supporting families who have experienced similar losses. Her advocacy and compassion serve as a beacon of hope for those navigating the difficult journey of grief and loss.