The symbol was created after Millie Smith gave birth to twin daughters, Callie and Skye. Skye lived for only three hours, while Callie remained in intensive care after being born prematurely.
Millie later experienced a painful misunderstanding when another parent unknowingly commented that she was lucky not to have twins. She realized that a simple symbol could prevent similar comments and help grieving parents feel acknowledged.
The butterfly was chosen to represent babies who had “flown away,” while purple was selected as a gender-neutral color. The idea has since spread to hospitals in several countries as a compassionate sign of remembrance and support.
