New baby joy for Aberdeenshire sex change dad

The sex change parent of a schoolboy who died in a cliff fall revealed her heartbroken family have found new joy.

Justine Smithies, 41, and Julie Smithies, 39, her partner of 22 years and former wife, have become grandparents for a second time the first for Justine as fully-fledged woman.

Cradling tiny baby Harrison at the home they share in the seaside town of Cruden Bay in Aberdeenshire, Justine formerly Justin said: “We are overjoyed. We think our son Cameron is watching over Harrison.

“He would have been made-up to be an uncle again.”

And the couple, who already have two-year-old granddaughter Harmony, revealed that before his death on a day out with friends, the fun-loving 15-year-old predicted his sister Samantha’s baby would be a boy.

Marine electronics engineer Justine, who also has another daughter, Morgan, 12, with Julie said: “I remember Cameron saying, ‘It’s going to be a hyperactive ginger boy’.

“After his passing we took Samantha to get a scan and that’s when they told us that it was a very active, wriggly boy.

“It was as if Cameron had really known. All that was left was to discover was his hair colour. Well now he’s here and his hair does have a ginger tinge.”

Justine added: “Though my surgery earlier this year to become a woman made me feel complete, even when Harmony was born I saw myself as female.

“I was always granny to her. Both my grandchildren have brought happy tears to my eyes there was a time, as a man, that I never ever thought I would be able to be my true self.”

Throughout her challenging transgender journey Justine has had the loving support of her partner and their children, having finally revealed her lifelong need to be female five years ago.

Cameron’s death just weeks after the surgery, and Harrison’s birth, has seen their strong family bond blossom further.

Cameron had been thrilled to learn his two mums planned to remarry under new same-sex laws and said he wanted to walk them both down the aisle.

And his 19-year-old sister Samatha’s devotion is just as strong, as is that of her partner, Shaun Donaldson, 22, with whom she lives in Peterhead.

“Harrison’s birth wasn’t easy,” Samantha said. “The cord was presenting first. I had to have an emergency caesarean and was scared for his life and my own.

“Both my mums were there for me. Justine and Shaun were at the hospital, Julie looked after Harmony.

“Only Shaun could go into theatre with me. I was in tears when I said ’bye to Justine. She was scared and nervous, too. I felt Cameron with me then.”

But all went well and Harrison was born weighing 6lbs 13oz. Samantha said: “I think Cameron was watching out for him, giving him that extra chance.

“We have a wonderful family and I’ve never been so proud of my parents. They have been through more tough times than most people, yet they still love each other.

“It’s great having two mums. I can talk to them about anything and we’re all over the moon that we have Harrison.”

The Smithies are now making plans for Christmas. Justine said: “It is going to be hard without Cameron but we’ll still celebrate it and talk about what he would have done or said, funny or sad.

“We’ll never forget him. Samantha and Shaun and will be at ours with the children for the festivities.

“That’s what families do. We love them all. I couldn’t think of having Christmas any other way.”