Grandmother helps grieving parents by making casts of stillborn babies
Julie Scougal was working as a carer when her friend's husband suddenly died of a heart attack.
"When I went to see her she was devastated and told me about how they had planned to go to an Edinburgh casting studio to get a cast of their hands made," she told The Daily Record.
"She told me she felt like she'd lost that opportunity, and I said if I could work out how to do it, I would. I bought the stuff online, and put her hands next to his in the coffin and cast them, and that was it.
"She later told me that she holds the cast of his hand when she goes to bed at night. After that, I contacted a casting studio, and did a training course before starting making them for friends and family."
After being made redundant from her carer's job, Julie decided to turn her hobby into a full time job.
"People like to have casts of their new babies feet, or their linked hands for their 50th wedding anniversaries – things like that.
"One day, through social media someone contacted me about her son, the baby had died, and she asked if I would cast his hand and foot."
Julie cast the hands and feet of the baby, who was in the moratorium.
"People imagine that it's grim, like in the movies, but it's not, it's a beautiful room, the baby was in a Moses basket and mum was holding him while I cast."
Julie casts babies who have passed away for free, as a support for the devastated parents.
"To me its 15 minutes of my time, but the comfort the mums get is enormous.
"I don't charge theses girls. Sometimes it's their first baby, or they are young girls and they're just devastated. It's a sensitive subject, it can happen so quickly and leave such heartbreak.
"I do my best to put everyone at ease and I get satisfaction knowing I've done my best to help someone.
"I always think if you do good, good will come your way too. I stumbled upon doing this because of a tragedy, but out of this tragedy I paved my way, and I've found my niche."
Working through social media and word of mouth, Julie has steadily gathered a solid client base.
Mum Ellie Boyle, who's son was stillborn, enlisted Julie to cast his hands.
"I held him as she did it and it brought a smile to my face, knowing I was going to have his casts for the rest off my life. I love looking at them everyday and I can hold and touch them.
"Julie is an amazing woman and I can’t thank her enough for what she has done for me and my family."
You can see more about Julie's business here.