Callie, born prematurely, had to stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for a while. As Millie and Lewis spent time with Callie in the NICU, they were often reminded of their loss when other parents, unaware of their situation, made innocent comments. One such comment, from a mother who said Millie was “so lucky” to not have twins, deeply hurt her, as she did not have the heart to explain her loss.
That moment inspired Millie to create the purple butterfly initiative. She designed a poster for NICUs explaining that any incubator with a purple butterfly on it signifies that one or more babies from a set of multiples were lost. The butterfly symbolizes the babies who “flew away,” and the color purple was chosen as it is suitable for both boys and girls.
