Raising awareness for loss of multiples-Skye High Foundation

I found out I was pregnant with identical twins in 2022 and unfortunately, I lost one of my twins halfway through my pregnancy to TTTS (twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome). I now have a beautiful, healthy 17-month-old survivor and I am extremely grateful for him; however, that doesn't take away from the grief of losing my son, his identical brother.

Never did I anticipate to hold a healthy baby in one arm and a stillborn baby in the other. While figuring out how to love and grieve during my post-partum period, I experienced a range of emotions. I began following a few support groups of women who have also lost another twin baby, one of them being the Skye High Foundation based in the UK. This foundation provides support and advocates for improved bereavement resources for those who have experienced the loss of a multiple. Some resources include stickers that can be placed on hospital notes, posters to be placed in the NICU and the purple butterfly cot cards. The cot cards allow the family to write the name of their lost baby in remembrance. The purple butterfly has become a symbol that represents the loss of a multiple. The purpose of these resources are to raise awareness and avoid unnecessary comments and questions for those families who have experienced the loss of a baby, especially when they are vulnerable and emotions are particularly high.

The foundation has been able to provide every NICU in the UK with these resources. The next goal is the USA. My role as an ambassador for the Skye High Foundation is to help achieve this goal. There are over 1400 NICU’s in the US and the minimum needed to provide these resources to each hospital costs $150.

I will be partnering with two hospitals that played an integral part of my pregnancy, South Shore and Boston Children’s Hospital. My minimum goal is $150 for each hospital but if I am able to raise up to $1000, that will provide me with the ability to add additional items to the keepsake memory pack for each family to take home and remember their baby.

Any donation is greatly appreciated, the more I am able to raise the more hospitals I can help out <3