If You See A Purple Butterfly Sticker Near A Newborn, You Need To Know What It Means

When Millie and Louis learned they were expecting twins, they were overjoyed at the thought of expanding their family. However, their excitement soon turned to devastation when doctors diagnosed one of their babies, Skye, with anencephaly, a rare and fatal condition in which a baby is born without parts of the brain and skull. Tragically, Skye passed away shortly after her birth, leaving Millie and Louis to navigate an unimaginable grief. The pain of losing one of their children, while still welcoming the other, was overwhelming. But in the midst of this heartache, the couple found a way to honor Skye’s memory and support other families facing similar losses.

In response to their own suffering, Millie and Louis founded the Skye High Foundation. Through this foundation, they launched the Purple Butterfly Initiative, a project designed to bring comfort and understanding to families who have experienced the loss of one of their babies in a multiple birth. The centerpiece of this initiative is the purple butterfly stickers, which are now placed in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) around the world. These stickers, though simple, carry profound significance. They silently convey that a family has lost one of their babies, helping to prevent insensitive or hurtful comments from medical staff and visitors who might not be aware of the loss.

The purple butterflies are a subtle yet powerful symbol of grief, allowing families to grieve without feeling the added burden of explaining their loss to others. Millie and Louis know that the sticker can’t take away the pain of losing a child, but they believe it can alleviate some of the emotional strain by ensuring that others are more mindful and compassionate during an already difficult time. The initiative is just one part of the Skye High Foundation’s mission to offer ongoing support to families dealing with the heartbreaking loss of a child.

While Millie and Louis cannot change the fate of their daughter, Skye, they have channeled their grief into helping others cope with similar heartache. The foundation provides support groups and resources to families who have lost a baby in a multiple birth, offering a space where parents can connect with others who truly understand the emotional toll of such a loss. The support groups not only offer emotional guidance but also provide practical advice and community, ensuring that grieving parents don’t feel isolated in their pain. Through their efforts, Millie and Louis are creating a network of support that allows families to share their experiences, find solace, and begin healing.

As Millie said in an interview, “Ultimately I will never be able to stop this from happening, but the more support groups we can set up and put things in place like the stickers, the better it will be. It’s the hardest thing anyone has to deal with.” Her words reflect the deep empathy that drives their efforts, as well as their commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others, even in the face of their own grief. They understand that while they cannot reverse the loss of Skye, they can create meaningful initiatives that help ease the pain of others who are walking a similar path.

The Purple Butterfly Initiative is a testament to Millie and Louis’s resilience and compassion. It has touched the lives of countless families, providing them with the validation, empathy, and support they need during one of the most difficult experiences a parent can face. The couple’s journey has been marked by profound loss, but through their dedication to supporting others, they have created a legacy that honors their daughter’s memory while helping others find light in the darkest of times.

Millie and Louis’s work with the Skye High Foundation has had a far-reaching impact, showing that even in the midst of tragedy, it is possible to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. By offering both practical resources and emotional support, they have built a community of compassion and understanding for families who have lost a child. Their story is one of unwavering dedication, resilience, and love, and it serves as a reminder that, even in our greatest sorrow, we have the ability to bring comfort and hope to others.