Millie and Louis received the delightful news that they were expecting twins, filling them with immense joy. In Millie’s family, twins were not an uncommon occurrence, and the prospect of bringing two more precious babies into the world was truly thrilling for the couple.

Their initial excitement, however, was met with heartbreaking news from the doctors. Their unborn children were diagnosed with anencephaly, a condition characterized by underdeveloped brain tissue. Unfortunately, most babies with this condition do not survive to birth or shortly thereafter.

Tragically, Millie and Louis lost one of their twin girls, Skye, soon after an emergency C-section. The loss was devastating, but they found strength in embracing their surviving and healthy daughter, Callie.

It was during their time in the NICU that a thoughtless comment from another mother deeply affected Millie. The mother remarked, “You’re so lucky you haven’t got twins,” unknowingly causing Millie to burst into tears and flee the room. Millie would have given anything to have both of her babies with her.

Determined to prevent such unintentional hurtful comments for parents facing similar situations, Millie and Louis conceived the idea of the purple butterfly. None of the other parents were aware of Skye or the family’s loss, and the comment was made innocently in jest. But the impact was profound, and Millie ran out of the room in tears, unable to explain the heartbreaking circumstances.

They believed that a simple sticker with a purple butterfly emblem could prevent such painful encounters. Both Millie and Louis are committed advocates for this cause, founding the “Skye High Foundation.” The purple butterfly stickers have now been adopted in NICU units worldwide.

While they cannot change their own heartbreaking loss, Millie and Louis find solace in knowing that they are supporting other parents going through similar experiences. Their efforts to raise awareness and provide resources make a significant difference in the lives of those facing the unimaginable challenges of losing a child.

“Ultimately, I will never be able to stop this from happening, but the more support groups we can set up and measures like the stickers we can put in place, the better it will be. It’s the hardest thing anyone has to deal with,” Millie shared, emphasizing the importance of their mission.