GUESTS: Peter Rowe, reporter, The San Diego Union-Tribune

Sam Moehlig's life had a rocky start.

Born a girl and named Samantha in 2000 with fetal alcohol syndrome, her parents couldn't take care of her. She was soon adopted by Ron and Kathie Moehlig, and things began to look up.

She was always boisterous, and her parents and friends thought of her as a tomboy. But that's not how she felt. She always thought of herself as a boy.

The arrival of puberty was particularly difficult for Samantha. Her changing body and developing breasts increased her feeling of being trapped. Samantha suffered severe depression and suicidal thoughts, frightening her parents.



Kathie Moehlig described the anguish of seeing her child suffer, and then she came across the term "transgender."

On April 6, 2014, Samantha became Sam. That day was Sam's "boy birthday."

Last year, the family began to speak openly about Sam's struggles and transformation.

Union-Tribune: How A Girl Born At 2 Pounds Became A Happy Boy

Reporter Peter Rowe recently profiled Sam and his family in The San Diego Union-Tribune. Rowe talked about Sam and his life-changing operation on Friday on KPBS Midday Edition.

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