I never knew this.

Smith then knew she had to make something that would speak for parents who had just lost a child so that this kind of miscommunication would never happen again.

She created a poster for the neonatal intensive care unit to inform staff and visitors that a purple butterfly on the incubator indicated the loss of one or more babies in a set of multiples.

“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 Skye High Foundation, which oversees the purple butterfly initiative, has helped expand the idea to hospitals in many different nations.

Callie, now 7, is full of life and joy, and her memory continues on in purple butterfly cards and other programs to support families who have lost a baby like Skye.

Purple butterfly merchandise currently includes a wide variety of gifts and accessories.

“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.

The world is fortunate to have compassionate people like Millie Smith who are working to ease the suffering of those who have experienced the loss of a child of any age.