Mum given 'reprieve' in fight to preserve tragic transgender daughter's sperm
by Stuart McFarlane, https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/authors/stuart-mcfarlane/The mother of a tragic Stirling teen has received a “temporary reprieve” in efforts to keep her daughter’s dream of having a child alive.
Louise Anderson, 45, is at the centre of a legal fight to prevent a Glasgow clinic from destroying frozen sperm samples saved by her daughter Ellie.
The 16-year-old, who was originally born a boy, died suddenly in July after falling ill at an address in the city.
Solicitors have been looking into the ground-breaking case - and mum Louise received her first boost when NHS chiefs confirmed in a letter that the samples would now be kept until November 30.
Louise told the Observer: “The letter came from my lawyers at the weekend saying that they have agreed to keep the sperm until 30 November while we consider legal proceedings.
“It’s a small piece of good news but there is a worry they might think that’s enough time for me to forget this and for the issue to just go away.
“But that is definitely not the case, my intention has always been to follow this through completely and it’s just a temporary reprieve at this stage.”
St Modan’s pupil Ellie identified as a girl from age three and planned to have gender reassignment surgery when she turned 18.
She delayed taking hormone blockers to allow for her sperm to be collected at the fertility clinic at Glasgow Royal Infirmary from the age of 14, with plans to use an egg donor and a surrogate to satisfy her wishes.
The interim order has stopped the samples being thrown out for now, but existing legislation still says that while Ellie would have been able to transfer the right over her sperm to a partner if she was in a relationship, that right cannot be transferred to her mum.
But Louise is hoping to take the case to the Court of Session in an effort to force the clinic to keep the samples while she puts pressure on for the laws to be changed.
She has also promised to keep the fight to change the law going for other families affected by the current situation - even if Ellie’s own case is already resolved.
A petition started by Louise addressed to Prime Minister Boris Johnson campaigning for a change to the law has already gathered more than 1,080 signatures at time of going to print.
Louise added: “There must be so many people in this position - for example with cancer and infertility - who have no named partner and would see their sperm or eggs destroyed as a result.
“I do believe that the law needs to change and that we can’t have a one-size-fits-all position on something like this.
“It was the first time the clinic had seen a case of a transgender child wishing to store their sperm so maybe it’s something that needs to be offered.
“We’ve got a small window at the moment while things are on hold but my intention would be to continue with this even if I fail in Ellie’s case.
“It’s on Ellie’s behalf that the law needs to be changed and it is only fair that it is updated for everyone who might find themselves in a similar position.
“This is something I’ve taken on myself because Ellie was my youngest daughter and I supported her through every part of her journey and I just want to support her in death as much as in life.”
To support Louise’s call for a change in the law, you can sign the petition at www.change.org/p/boris-johnson-ellies-law-and-her-right-to-be-a-mother.