Closeted for a lifetime, Came out after death

Dearest friends of Darla Raspberry: I am the mother of Darla's son, who is now 23 years old. Until Darla's death, we knew her as John; now we have read "Me and Sam", and learned many other things. Almost 3 months after her accident, the sadness seems to go on forever, like a bottomless pit. Would love to speak to anyone who knew her, anyone who enjoyed her work. Need help with understanding, too. How can it affect a person, to live a whole lifetime keeping TS a secret? What is the connection between TV and TS? Can TS be caused by environmental influences, or is it thought to be totally inborn? (Those who have read "Me and Sam" will understand why I ask this.) Most importantly, what about the high suicide rate? Doesn't this issue, as much as many others, need to be brought "out of the closet"? Thanks for any responses, it will mean so much.