Tasha Cram, a woman who tragically lost her twin sister Tonya just weeks before their 4th birthday, has dedicated her life to helping other twins who have experienced the loss of their twin siblings. She has embarked on a renovation project to create a ranch retreat in Jackson, California, which will provide a healing space for grieving twins. The Butterfly Ranch, situated on a picturesque 45-acre property, is being expanded to include various accommodations such as cottages, hobbit houses, treehouses, and yurts.
What sets the Butterfly Ranch apart is its unique purpose. It aims to support twins who are grieving the loss of their twin siblings. Inspired by her own journey of processing her sister’s death and finding purpose in guiding other twins through their grief, Tasha Cram started this project in 2022. Her own experience as a child was profoundly difficult, as she and her sister did everything together. She didn’t fully grasp the permanence of her sister’s absence until she was around 10 years old.
However, the turning point in Cram’s life came a decade ago when she battled neurofibromas, a condition characterized by benign nerve tumors. She faced a near-death experience during surgery, and during this critical moment, she believes she encountered Tonya’s soul. She heard Tonya’s voice urging her to continue living and fulfilling their shared purpose. This encounter propelled Cram to seek ways to help twins cope with such a unique loss.
In 2017, Cram joined an online support group for twins who had lost their twin siblings. Although the group provided some solace, she felt the need to explore additional methods of healing. Cram delved into research on the deep connection between identical twins and complicated grief. While she couldn’t find specific studies on twins whose twin siblings had passed away, she strongly believes that twins require specialized resources and support to navigate their grief.
Having met several other twins in similar situations, Cram is convinced that bringing these individuals together fosters a sense of reconnection to their twin identity. She emphasizes that even though a twin’s physical counterpart may be gone, their body, mind, and spirit still exist, and they remain just as much a twin as before. In 2018, she founded her company, Twinful, with the purpose of helping grieving twins discover new meaning and connection in their lives.
In addition to the ranch retreat, Cram has embarked on a “hugging tour,” where she embraces other twins who have lost their twins, and coordinates a project where twins create blankets for their fellow twins. The ranch itself is a labor of love being constructed by twins, for twins. After purchasing the property in 2021, Cram estimates that it will take four years to complete the project fully.
At present, any twins or close family members are welcome to visit the ranch, as long as they are willing to contribute to its development. In exchange for their help, Cram provides free room and board. For Cram, the contributions made by pairs of twins represent the creation of a sanctuary that will ultimately be available to one of them when their twin passes away. Volunteers are picked up from the airport, provided with accommodations and meals for an average of four days. They are asked to work two hours per night, but have the rest of their time to relax, swim in the pool, or explore the area.
To help fund the project, Cram has initiated a brick project where twin donors can purchase engraved bricks to decorate the pathway to the ranch. She sold these bricks at the 2023 Twins Days Festival, an event she attended for the first time. The incredible support and openness she received from the twins who celebrated the festival affirmed her belief that the bond between twins transcends the physical realm.
Tasha Cram’s dedication to supporting grieving twins and her determination to create a healing space at the Butterfly Ranch is truly inspiring. Her own experiences and encounters have shaped her purpose, and she hopes to provide a place where twins can heal, connect, and find solace in the midst of their grief.
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