Online fight for change

Battling mum Louise is also to pile the pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson via an online petition urging him to change the law.

The petition on the Change.org website has already gathered more than 500 signatures since going online just over a week ago.

Stating her case in the text accompanying the petition, Louise argues the current legislation compelling clinics to destroy frozen sperm or eggs “discriminates against age, single and transgender people”and claims that the status quo is“inhumane”.

Louise said:“ellie’s biggest desire was to be a mother, following her transition.

“At the young age of 14 we went through the process of freezing her sperm to follow her dreams. She made it clear from the outset that should anything happen to her I was to fulfill my promise of bringing her children into the world.

“Imagine my dismay at being informed that, as she was single when she died and despite her wishes that I was the guarantor of her sperm, the clinic is legally obliged to destroy her sperm.

“To go through the trials of freezing your sperm or eggs for them to be callously destroyed despite your wishes is inhumane.

“Please help to make a change for everyone and so that I can fulfill my promise to Ellie to have her children. Her death was devastating beyond words but not being able to carry out her wishes is heartbreaking too.”

The former Riverside Primary pupil died suddenly after falling ill last month.

Ellie became unwell in the city’s Lower Bridge Street at around 10pm on July 22 and was rushed to Forth Valley Royal Hospital for treatment but died in the early hours of the following morning.

The popular 16-year-old’s death left friends and family, including her six siblings, devastated, with heartfelt tributes being paid online.

They included a message from Ellie’s heartbroken older brother Konnar, who thanked people for their messages of support and said:“we are still trying to come to terms with what has happened. Words can’t describe how we all are right now but our family need to be together.”

An online fundraiser set up by Louise to help with Ellie’s funeral costs has raised more than £1500 at time of going to print.