When the mind doesn’t fit the body and your daughter becomes a son

Kirsty Donohue’s eldest child told her he was a boy trapped in a girl’s body. She tells Claire O’Sullivan about the journey her family has been on since that day.

For some time, Kirsty Donohue’s eldest had a sketch hanging up on the wall. Kirsty didn’t take much notice of it thinking it was some guy in a band. The name Dylan was printed underneath.

First year in secondary school hadn’t been easy for the 13-year-old who had become increasingly withdrawn. Then an unexpected note came home from school one day requesting that Kirsty and her husband, Dara make an appointment to see them.