"Also, I had read a book called She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders, written by a professor who had gone through transgender surgery, but it took this person well into his thirties to come to terms with the absolute necessity of having to do it"

This quote by Mercedes Ruehl speaks to the difficulty of pertaining to terms with one's gender identity. It recommends that it can take a very long time for somebody to accept the need to transition, which it is not an easy choice to make. The quote references a book written by a professor who had actually gone through transgender surgical treatment, which suggests that the procedure of transitioning is not only challenging mentally, however likewise physically. This quote highlights the importance of understanding and accepting one's gender identity, and the nerve it takes to transition. It also serves as a pointer that everyone's journey is different, and that it is necessary to be patient and supportive of those who are struggling to come to terms with their gender identity.