A young Scots mum is to take on the lengthy and difficult legal process of adopting her 13-year-old brother after the tragic death of their mother.
Karly Scott, from Gilmerton, Edinburgh, had her world tipped upside down after her mum, Leila Scott, suddenly died at just 44.
She had been suffering from an underlying health condition and has sadly left behind Karly, her two grandchildren and younger son Lennox.
While grieving the loss of her beloved mum, Karly, 24, is juggling funeral arrangements, moving home and is trying to obtain legal guardianship of her teenage brother.
The bereaved family are devastated over the loss of their mum who they describe as "their rock" and the "kindest, most beautiful person."
Karly and Lennox were extremely close with Leila, who brought them up single handedly.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live Karly said: "We have always been so close, I was 12 when Lennox was born. It's always been us three.
"She always made sure we had more than we needed and she was the only person I could really rely on.
"Since I got in a relationship and had kids, I moved out so it was just Lennox and my mum. I just live around the corner though and have two young kids myself.
"I have a son and daughter, Cody who is three and Freya who is one, mum helped me with them so much and was always there - I never had to ask.
"They loved her to bits, it's really hard with the kids even though Freya is just one whenever she sees a picture of my mum she asks 'where's Nana?' and doesn't understand why we can't go and visit anymore."
Karly is currently going through the legal process to become her little brothers legal guardian but will have to move house as her two bedroom flat is not big enough for the whole family.
Their mum has a housing association property nearby which has three bedrooms and is suitable for the family - as well as holding countless precious memories which they are trying to move into now.
The 24-year-old continued: "I have to move house now, we have to go all through the forms to make sure its legal. My house is a two-bedrooms and my mums is a three bedroom so we are working with my housing officer to hopefully move into there.
"There is a lot of legalities to become my brother's legal guardian too it's a lot.
"We spent a lot of our childhood in that house, and my kids know its Nana's house.
"Freya asks me every day 'where nana is?' and I explain that she is in the sky and not with us anymore but she doesn't really understand and tries to wave at the sky."
Lennox who lived alone with his mum for the last couple of years is still in shock over the devastating loss.
Karly said: "Lennox is still in shock, he is heartbroken and devastated. He has been worrying what happens to him now, and about what will happen to his house and all our mums belongings.
"It's had a massive impact on our lives."
There is no life insurance, savings or financial support for the family as their mum was unwell and unable to work.
So a fundraising page has been put together to raise funds to give Leila the send off she deserves and support the family through this distressing time.
Leila was loved by so many and the fundraiser has already hit £2000 so far, Karly said: "I'm so grateful and blown away with the kindness, funeral costs are estimated at around £7000.
"I appreciate anything, nothing goes unnoticed. My mum was the kindest, most beautiful person in the world, I just want to give her the send off she deserves."
You can donate to the fundraising page here.
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