Only weeks after Millie Smith and Lewis Cann learned they were having twin baby girls, they learned that only one would survive.

On April 30, after 30 weeks of a high-risk pregnancy, Smith delivered identical twins, Callie and Skye, the latter who lived only three hours.

Later in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Callie slept without her sister in the incubator, with her loving and grieving parents watching over her. In the unit with other babies, an overwhelmed mom of healthy newborn twins innocently told Smith that she was “so lucky” to not have two babies.

Crushed by the words, the new mom couldn’t find the words to explain her loss. Then, she realized that Skye’s legacy was to help other families who lose a child, and it came in the form of a purple butterfly.

In November 2015 Millie Smith and partner Lewis Cann found out they were having their first Child. Smith, who has twins in the family, said she had a “gut feeling” about having a duo and 10 weeks later, doctors confirmed she was expecting identical twin girls.

Less than two weeks after the excitement of knowing they would double the children in their home, the British couple were devastated to learn that one of their babies had a fatal condition and wouldn’t survive after birth.

“During the scan, the doctor didn’t say anything. I was very excited and loved seeing the little babies, but she was silent. Both Lewis and I immediately knew there must be a problem,” Smith said.

Doctors shared the news that one of the babies had anencephaly, which according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) affects about one in 4,600 babies across the U.S. It’s a serious birth defect where a baby is born without parts of the brain and skull, and “almost all babies born with anencephaly will die shortly after birth.”

Knowing that one baby would die soon after birth, and that there were risks involved for their other baby, the couple decided to move forward with the extremely high-risk pregnancy.

Over the next several months, Smith and Cann named their twins Skye and Callie. “We knew that Skye needed to have a name before she was born,” Smith said. “Knowing she would only survive for seconds or minutes, I wanted her to be named during that time.”

The meaning behind “Skye,” she explained “was somewhere we knew she would always be, that we could look up at the sky and remember our baby.”

When Smith went into labor after only 30 weeks on April 30, she needed an emergency C-section. To help navigate the loss, the couple had a “bereavement midwife” during the birth, and they were put I a special room the called the “Daisy Room,” where families can spend time with a baby before and after she/he passes.

“When the girls were born, they both cried. This was a huge moment, as we were told that Skye would not make a noise or move,” said Smith, who was thankful to have three hours with Skye before she died. “We were cuddling Skye when she passed away. This was the worst moment in our lives. I have never ever felt heartbreak like that before. But I am proud that she fought for so long to spend time with us.”

Born premature, Callie had to stay in NICU while she gained some strength and also in the unit were three other sets of twin.

“Most of the nurses were aware of what had happened, but as time passed, people stopped talking about Skye. After about four weeks, everyone acted as though nothing had happened, meaning the families around me had no idea about our situation,” Smith recalled.

One morning, a stressed mother whose twins were also in NICU, harmlessly said to Smith that she was “so lucky” to not have twins.

“None of the other parents knew what had happened or anything about Skye. The comment was completely innocent and more out of humor…They weren’t to know that I did at one point have two.” Smith continued, “But the comment nearly broke me. I ran out [of] the room in tears and they had no idea why. I didn’t have the heart to tell them what had happened. A simple sticker would have avoided that entire situation.”

It was in that moment Smith realized she had to create something that would speak for parents who had just lost a baby, ensuring the misunderstanding never happens again.

She designed a poster for the NICU explaining both hospital personnel and visitors that any incubator with a purple butterfly on it means that one or more babies, in a set of multiples were lost.

“I chose butterflies, as I felt it was fitting to remember the babies that flew away, the color purple because it is suitable for both boys or girls,” said Smith.

The purple butterfly concept–now under the Skye High Foundation–has spread to hospitals in several countries around the world.

Callie is now a lively, happy seven-year-old, and twin’s memory lives in purple butterfly cards along with other initiatives to help families with babies like Skye all over the world. The purple butterflies now come in numerous forms, like ornaments, cards, blankets, stuffed animals and more.

“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,” Smith said.

Losing a child of any age can’t be easy for a parent and the world is blessed for people like Millie Smith who’s aiming to help others.

Please share this story so others know what a purple butterfly next to a newborn means!

If you enjoyed reading this story about Millie Smith and her twins, you’ll probably also love the story about a new mom who thought she was having seven babies, but instead had nine!

All of us who adore animals also love to gaze at photographs of our furry companions. It doesn’t matter what mood I’m in – if I see an adorable puppy, a playful tiger cub, or a beautiful horse, a smile forms on my lips.

But sometimes, you come across animal pictures that leave you speechless. And with the image we’re about to look at now, I believe you’ll feel much the same as everyone else on the internet – what am I actually looking at?

To uncover the truth, I suggest you scroll down…

A certain photo has been circulating on the internet for some time now, and it’s causing quite a commotion due to its puzzling subject.

Initially, it appears to depict a dog without a head – which understandably triggered widespread panic and concern. But this is the kind of image that will make you do multiple double-takes just to grasp what’s happening in the picture…

Fortunately, the reality is not as ominous as your initial impression might suggest, and for that, we’re truly grateful.

The picture was uploaded to Imgur in 2019, and it didn’t take long for it to create quite a buzz. And it’s easy to understand why. In a short period of time, image garnered more than 143,000 views and received 3,200 upvotes.

É assim que fica um cachorro com três pernas lambendo o rabo. Agora você já viu tudo. pic.twitter.com/pRrsyq4WcK

— Arthur Gubert 🍥 (@arthurdeverdade) September 9, 2019

But thankfully, it was later revealed that there was no cause for alarm regarding the dog. So, what was the truth behind the scary image?

It turns out that it simply featured a dog who had undergone surgery to have its front leg amputated, which was a sad but necessary procedure.

The photo was the unfortunate result of the dog’s owner attempting to capture an image just as the dog turned around to lick its side. To clarify things for online users, someone used a drawing diagram to illustrate how the picture came about and posted it on Reddit. No everything makes sense, right?

To alleviate any remaining concerns, the dog’s owner stepped forward and shared a full-front picture of the now-famous pup with his three legs.

This adorable little canine has captured our hearts, and it’s safe to say that it won’t be long before he becomes a social media pet influencer.

Doggo

What do you think? I think he is so adorable!

Kelly Ripa and her husband are mourning a heartbreaking loss.

On Wednesday, Ripa became emotional on live television as she spoke about the passing of her beloved dog, Chewie.

Fighting back tears, she admitted she thought she had already processed her grief—but the emotions were still overwhelming.

Couldn’t stop crying

Losing a dog is like losing a family member — that’s something every pet owner understands. Now, Kelly Ripa and her husband Mark Consuelos are mourning the loss of their beloved 17-year-old dog, Chewie. After weeks of declining appetite, the couple faced the heartbreaking decision to say goodbye.

The popular TV presenter shared the heartbreaking news during an emotional episode of Live with Kelly and Mark on Wednesday. Mark opened the show and said that their beloved dog, Chewie, had passed away at 17.

He shared that Chewie’s health had deteriorated rapidly — she had stopped eating and was severely dehydrated. As soon as Kelly heard the words, she couldn’t hold back her tears.

She tried to stay composed, but the emotions were simply too overwhelming.

”I’m really sorry. I thought I got it all out, guys. I really thought I got it all out, and I apologize because I did not. This is not how I wanted this to go down. God, she gave us so much,” Ripa shared.

According to Kelly, Chewie was a truly special and loving dog. As Kelly and Mark’s children grew up and left for college, Chewie remained a constant presence in their home — a family member, a loyal companion, and a source of endless joy.

Chewie was like a cat

”She was very much like a cat, you know, in a lot of ways,” Kelly shared and continued:

”She pet you when she wanted affection. She never let us kiss her face. She was very precious about her face. She was not that dog. And, after she passed away last night, I kissed her a thousand times on the face, I kissed her nose.”

”I’d never kissed her nose before. And I know that she was like, somewhere in dog heaven, p**sed! But, I didn’t care because it was just so nice to have that.”

Kelly and Mark’s heartfelt and honest words about Chewie touched many, especially those watching the show. Countless fans have reached out to Kelly on Instagram to share their condolences, according to Daily Mail.

Fans poured out their support for Kelly Ripa on Instagram, expressing their sympathy after she tearfully shared the heartbreaking loss of Chewie.

One person wrote: “Watching you now and crying! Don’t apologize! Chewie is part of your family! I went through it too. It’s been seven months, and I’m still missing mine! You were always talking about both your dogs! Chewie had a great life! I’m so sorry for your loss.”

Another added: “I cried with you while you guys were talking about Chewie, felt like I knew the pup well from how you spoke so lovingly of her. I’m so very sorry for your loss. Losing a beloved pet is losing a member of your family, and there was no need for you to apologize. We all felt horribly for you. She’s resting in peace now, looking down on you. God Bless you all.”

A third viewer shared: “I’m watching the show and crying about the loss of Chewie! They are your fur babies and bring us so much joy. Grieve as much as you need to. I will be praying for you and your family!”

Another heartfelt message read: “I knew the moment you walked out today what had happened. So very sorry for your loss. Do not apologize for being upset. She will always be a part of your family. We dog owners understand.”

Losing a beloved pet is like losing a piece of your heart, and Kelly Ripa’s raw emotions only prove how much love she had for Chewie. As one fan beautifully put it, “It shows her humanity.”

Our deepest condolences to Kelly and Mark during this difficult time. If you’ve ever loved and lost a furry friend, you know how deep this pain runs—feel free to share this story to honor Chewie and all the pets who’ve left paw prints on our hearts. ❤️🐾