See A Purple Butterfly In A Utah NICU? Here Is What It Means

Being in a hospital is usually because of routine checkups or a more serious matter so being cautious is a smart move, especially near the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.  

Families who have just had a child or multiple children just had the experience of a lifetime and sadly it isn’t always filled with positives. If you ever visit a NICU or pass by one during your time in a hospital, it's best to be aware of the atmosphere and really read the room.  

Some families will post purple butterflies on an incubator and that is your cue to be extra sensitive to the people around you.  

A purple butterfly may seem like just a cute decoration that a family has added to their baby's incubator, but the truth is a message clouded in grief. A family who had multiple pregnancy has lost one or more of its newest members. It could be twins, triplets, etc but essentially, that baby with a purple butterfly lost a sibling and parents just lost a child.  

Starting in 2016 after a family lost one of their twin girls, a foundation was created called the Skye High Foundation to help bring awareness to the issue. If you want the full background story, click here.  

The butterfly is usually accompanied by a poster explaining the circumstances but not everyone will take the time to read it. So, this is a message to be especially kind and caring near the NICU (or anywhere) when in a hospital.