A Heartfelt Journey: The Story of Millie Smith and Her Twin Daughters
In a poignant tale of love, loss, and resilience, Millie Smith and her partner, Lewis Cann, found themselves in a heartbreaking situation just weeks after discovering they were expecting twin girls. Tragically, they learned that only one of the babies would survive the pregnancy. This story, woven with the threads of hope and remembrance, highlights the importance of acknowledging grief in a world that often shies away from discussing the loss of a child.
The High-Risk Pregnancy
On April 30, Millie delivered her precious daughters, Callie and Skye, at just 30 weeks into a high-risk pregnancy. While Callie emerged to take on life’s challenges, her twin sister Skye had only three fleeting hours to experience the warmth of her parents’ love. This heart-wrenching situation was compounded by the fact that the family was struggling to process their grief while also trying to celebrate the small joys of new life.
In the sterile environment of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Millie and Lewis were faced with the reality of their situation. With Callie nestled in her incubator, they were overwhelmed with emotions. The stark contrast of witnessing other parents’ joy highlighted their own heartache. One day, a fellow mother, unaware of their loss, casually remarked how “lucky” she felt to have only one baby, leaving Millie feeling crushed and unable to articulate her pain.
Facing the Unthinkable
Millie’s journey began in November 2015 when she and Lewis learned they were expecting their first child. With twins running in her family, Millie had a strong intuition that they were having a duo. The joy of this discovery quickly turned to despair when a subsequent scan revealed that one of the twins had a severe condition known as anencephaly. This devastating diagnosis indicated that Skye would not live long after birth, a reality that no parent should have to face.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), anencephaly occurs in approximately one in 4,600 births in the United States. This serious birth defect results in a baby being born without significant portions of the brain and skull, almost always leading to death shortly after delivery. Despite knowing the grim prognosis, Millie and Lewis made the courageous decision to continue with the pregnancy, cherishing every moment they could have with both daughters.
Creating a Lasting Legacy
The couple named their twins Skye and Callie, with Millie expressing a deep need to honor Skye’s existence by giving her a name before she was born. The name “Skye” symbolizes a place of peace and remembrance, a way for Millie and Lewis to always look up to the heavens and keep their daughter close to their hearts. When labor began, the couple was prepared for the emotional rollercoaster that awaited them, and they were supported by a bereavement midwife who helped them navigate the complexities of their situation.
During their brief time with Skye—who surprised them both by crying—Millie and Lewis embraced their daughter tightly, cherishing every precious moment. Millie vividly recalls this time as both the happiest and the most heartbreaking of their lives. Holding their daughter as she passed away was a moment that would forever be etched in their hearts. “I have never felt heartbreak like that before,” Millie later revealed, expressing both sorrow and pride in knowing their little girl fought to be with them, even if just for three hours.
Advocacy Through Grief
As Callie grew stronger in the NICU, Millie faced the stark reality of how her loss was often overlooked by others. Over time, it became evident that many of the healthcare professionals and fellow parents had moved on, often forgetting the significance of Skye’s story. This feeling of isolation was compounded when a mother innocently commented on her own “luck” at having only one child, not understanding the depth of Millie’s grief. In that moment, Millie realized the importance of raising awareness and creating a symbol of remembrance for families who undergo similar losses.
Determined to make a difference, Millie designed a purple butterfly symbol to signify the loss of a child in a multiple birth situation. This gentle reminder would serve to inform hospital staff and visitors that a family was grieving. The choice of a butterfly as a symbol was particularly significant; it represented the delicate nature of life and the beauty of a child’s spirit that continues to exist, even after they have flown away from this world.
A Global Movement
Now embodied in the Skye High Foundation, this initiative has spread beyond Millie and Lewis’s local community to hospitals around the globe. The foundation’s mission is to support families experiencing similar heartache while advocating for greater awareness and understanding surrounding infant loss. Today, the purple butterfly has become a universal symbol of remembrance, available in various forms like cards, stuffed animals, and blankets, helping families find solace in their shared experiences.
Callie, now a vibrant seven-year-old, carries the memory of her twin sister with her. Millie’s commitment to creating support systems and advocacy for grieving families is a testament to the enduring love she and Lewis have for both of their daughters. “It’s the hardest thing anyone has to deal with,” Millie emphasizes, underscoring the importance of community and support during such a devastating time.
In conclusion, the journey of Millie Smith and her family is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable grief. Their story encourages compassion and understanding, urging others to acknowledge the significance of a purple butterfly and what it stands for in the lives of grieving families. By sharing these stories, we can foster a more empathetic world, ensuring that no parent feels alone in their sorrow.
