When Millie and Louis found out that they were carrying twins, their happiness was tempered by the sad news that one of their kids, Skye, had been diagnosed with anencephaly. Anencephaly is an uncommon and fatal disorder in which the brain and skull do not fully develop.
Skye’s life would be cut tragically short as a result of the condition her disease caused. In addition to the probable death of one of their children, they were left to make preparations for the arrival of two more wonderful children.
While Millie and Louis were in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), they were able to personally witness the special anguish that comes with the loss of one baby in a multiple birth. It was common for well-meaning comments made by individuals who were unaware of Skye’s demise to rekindle the wounds that they had previously suffered.
Despite the fact that they were not malicious, these queries brought to mind the sibling that their child who was still alive will never know. This traumatic incident motivated them to discover a means to assist other bereaved parents who were going through a circumstance that was comparable to their own.
By establishing the Purple Butterfly Initiative through the Skye High Foundation, a charitable organization that was named after their cherished daughter, Millie and Louis were resolute in their goal to protect others from the unnecessary suffering that they had caused.
Their objective was to convey in a manner that was both silent and unambiguous that a family had suffered the loss of one of their babies as a result of a multiple birth. This would provide medical personnel and other individuals with a means of comprehending the delicate nature of the situation without uttering a single word.
There are now purple butterfly stickers being used in neonatal intensive care units all around the world. These stickers, which are uncomplicated but powerful, are affixed to the incubators or cribs of twins or triplets while they are still alive. They serve the purpose of indicating that one of their siblings has passed away.
Through the use of this seemingly little symbol, the Skye High Foundation has been able to cultivate compassion and understanding in a context where families are already considered to be vulnerable.
Nevertheless, the activity of the foundation extends further than the butterfly stickers. Parents who have experienced the loss of a child as a result of a multiple birth are eligible to receive counseling, support groups, and resources from the Skye High Foundation. By putting up these efforts, Millie and Louis are constructing a community that is characterized by resilience and understanding.
As Millie explains, “In the end, I will never be able to prevent this from occurring; however, the more support groups we are able to establish and the more things we are able to put in place, such as the stickers, the better it will be.” Dealing with it is the most difficult thing that anyone has to do.
By transforming their sorrow into a source of solace for others, Millie and Louis are not only ensuring that Skye’s legacy will live on, but they are also providing solace to a great number of families all over the world. They continue to make a significant difference, one purple butterfly at a time, thanks to their tenacity and compassion.