When Millie Smith and Lewis Cann found out they were expecting a baby, they were overjoyed. As there was a history of twins in Millie’s family, she had a strong feeling that she was going to give birth to two little ones, and her instincts were right. The ultrasound confirmed that she was indeed expecting twins, but the doctors told them that one of the babies had a very small chance of survival.
ragically, one of their daughters was born at 30 weeks with anencephaly, a serious condition that affects the development of the brain and spinal cord. They learned that their precious baby had only moments or hours to live.
Knowing this, Millie and Lewis wanted to give her a name before they said goodbye. They chose the name Skye. Millie explained: “We felt she needed a name before she arrived. Knowing she wouldn’t be with us for long, I wanted her to have a name in those fleeting moments”.
The name “Skye” symbolized a connection to a place they could always remember when they looked up to the sky. “We held Skye close as she died. It was the most heartbreaking moment of our lives, but I’m proud that she fought to spend that time with us.” Skye only lived for three hours, a brief time filled with love while her parents cherished her beauty and presence.
After her death, Millie and Lewis were supported by a “bereavement midwife” and given access to a “Daisy Room”, a special room where parents could spend time with their baby before and after death. However, after Skye was gone, her memory seemed to fade; no one spoke of her, leaving Millie feeling like her daughter had never existed, which made her angry.
“Most of the nurses knew what had happened, but as the weeks went by, people stopped mentioning Skye. Other families around me had no idea about our loss”, Millie recalls.
While her other daughter, Callie, was still in the NICU, another mother who knew nothing about Millie’s situation remarked how lucky she was not to have twins. “None of the other parents knew about Skye, and that innocent comment almost broke me. I left the room in tears but didn’t have the heart to explain”, Millie said. “A simple sticker could have prevented this.”
This experience inspired Millie to design a sticker for incubators to mark the loss of one or more babies in a multiple birth. She chose butterflies to symbolise the ‘flown away’ babies and used the colour purple, which is suitable for any gender.
From this idea grew the Skye High Foundation, which promotes the Purple Butterflies initiative and helps raise awareness in hospitals around the world. The foundation also offers a range of purple butterfly merchandise.
“Although I can’t prevent these situations from occurring, I believe the more support we can provide through initiatives like the stickers, the better it will be for others who suffer this loss. It’s an incredibly tough journey”, said Millie. Today, her surviving daughter Callie is seven years old.
Plus-Sized Model Claps Back at Trolls: “Look Away”
Plus-sized influencer Abby Bible isn’t letting cyberbullies get to her. Abby brushes off the criticism directed at her audacious bikini images, in which she flaunts her size 22 figure. She thinks plus-size bodies are gorgeous and have wonderful bikini bodies.
In a society where women are frequently under pressure to meet unattainable beauty standards, role models like Abby Bible are essential in advancing body positivity and self-love. At six feet one inch, 25-year-old influencer Abby defies the “toxic” standards of society. She disavows the notion that being petite, delicate, adorable, and soft-spoken equates to femininity.
Abby hasn’t had an easy time coming to terms with who she is. She endured cruel remarks about her size and battled with her weight since she was a little girl. In an attempt to find happiness, she even went as far as losing 100 pounds at one time. But she quickly discovered that accepting oneself—regardless of one’s physical appearance—is the key to finding true happiness.
Abby is now on a mission to spread the word that plus-size bodies may be just as attractive as any other. She answers a troll who claims that “fat people shouldn’t wear string bikinis” in a recent TikTok video. With assurance, Abby labels the video, saying, “Look away if you don’t like it.” Her carefree demeanor and jovial glance convey a strong message: she doesn’t give a damn what people think.
Even though Abby has a lot of followers who thank and admire her for her confidence, there are still internet trolls who make fun of her. Some criticize her decision to accept her body and claim she lacks self-respect. However, Abby is unfazed by these disparaging remarks.
It’s crucial to remember that having a larger frame can have negative health effects. Because of her weight, Abby is more prone to certain illnesses, such joint and cardiac trouble. Some who are worried contend that body positivity advocacy shouldn’t downplay these grave health hazards.
But Abby is more concerned with her contentment and acceptance of herself. She wants everyone to know that being smaller doesn’t make someone superior to her. She will always be content with herself and is pleased to be an unapologetic obese girl.
In the end, Abby’s tale serves as a reminder that contentment ought to come first. We should encourage Abby in her quest for self-love as long as she is content and takes good care of her health. How do you feel about Abby’s narrative? Let us know what you think, and let’s carry on the discussion!
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