The transcendent legacy of a young man's terminal diagnosis
The memoir Liberation of Being is now available!
It’s been the gift of a lifetime to help see this memoir from inception to fruition. Unfixed Media is a labor-of-love and I never know from one year to the next what may land in my lap. When the seeds of this book were planted in 2022, it was hard to fathom it might ever reach the light of day, but here we are. And boy is it bright. You can learn more about the creation of this luminous treasure on the unfixed website or scroll to the bottom of this post to purchase. 100% of book sale profits go to American Forests.
When his book reaches most readers, Dylan Shanahan, as many have come to know him through his stories, essays, and interviews with his friends and family, will be gone.
But, as he reminds us in the chapter of Liberation of Being titled, “Be More, Do Less,” energy can be neither created nor destroyed. This book is just one piece of the legacy Dylan leaves behind—a passionate case for the beauty and meaning of life apart from what we can produce or provide.
Liberation of Being is a not just about survival, but about resilience, innovation, and the indomitable spirit of the human soul.
Overcoming the bleak prognosis associated with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), where many patients succumb within a few years of diagnosis, Dylan Shanahan has defied expectations.
Right now Dylan communicates using eye-tracking technology, showcasing his unwavering spirit and determination to inspire hope through his advocacy and ongoing contributions to research, providing a beacon of hope for ALS patients worldwide.
"As an experiment, you could try to count how many times in a day you brush off your nose, scratch your head, scratch your shoulder, etc. Then you could take it to the next level the next day to see how many times you cross your legs, shift your weight back, or change your arm position to be more comfortable and ultimately escape from an unpleasant sensation. What would you do if you couldn’t get out from the sensation on your own? With that thought experiment, you can imagine what it is like to be in my skin."
Dylan has committed to living as a “human being, not a human doing,” sharing everything he has learned for as long as he has left. Soon, Dylan’s eye muscles will fail completely, at which point he will experience total body lockout. Dylan’s last act of agency is a standing order for caregivers to end his life, on his terms, with his mother singing him into the next life as she did when he began this one.
While it may seem that Dylan’s end-of-life plans are meant to end his suffering, the truth is that his suffering ended long ago.
Dylan’s message is clear: when we accept our life as it is, without judgment or fear, not even the horror of a declining body and loss of autonomy can deter our purpose.
When we truly believe that every person is inherently valuable—including ourselves—we too can experience the Liberation of Being.
Please consider rejoicing in and learning from Dylan’s story and being a part of his legacy of liberation.
In Liberation of Being: Allowing Terminal Illness to Teach Us How to Live, Dr. Dylan Shanahan invites readers into a journey of profound resilience and philosophical exploration. Diagnosed with ALS in the prime of his life, Dylan confronts the relentless progression of the disease with courage and introspection. Formerly a vibrant athlete and dedicated scholar, Dylan's life takes an unexpected turn as he adapts to a body that steadily declines.
Through the pages of this poignant memoir, Dylan shares his evolution from physical prowess to profound physical limitation, navigating the loss of motor function with grace and wisdom. Drawing on his background in naturopathic and Chinese medicine and Aikido, he explores themes of acceptance, autonomy, and the intrinsic worth of every human life. His use of eye-tracking technology becomes not just a tool for communication but a lifeline to express his deepest thoughts on life, suffering, and the quest for meaning.
As Dylan's physical abilities diminish, his spiritual and intellectual journey unfolds with remarkable clarity. He challenges readers to reconsider their own relationship with control and mortality, offering a compelling argument for embracing life's uncertainties with equanimity. Dylan's decision to assert agency over his final moments, ensuring a dignified exit on his terms, underscores his unwavering commitment to autonomy and self-determination.
Liberation of Being is more than a memoir; it is a profound meditation on the beauty and fragility of life itself. Dr. Dylan Shanahan's legacy is a testament to the power of resilience, the importance of finding purpose beyond physical capability, and the enduring value of every individual's existence. This book is a must-read for anyone grappling with existential questions, seeking inspiration in the face of adversity, or simply searching for a deeper understanding of what it means to truly live.
Sometimes, even on the darkest days, when we can’t see a path forward, there are points of light. These came in the form of Dr. Dylan Shanahan and Kimberly Warner.
Dylan reached into the depths of his soul and with sheer determination, he showed us the very best of humanity. I imagine a communication that went like this~
“Kimberly , I want to tell my story. If I could change the life of even just one person , I need to climb a mountain to do it.”
And I’m certain Kimberly replied,
“ which one? “.
Congratulations for reaching the top together. There is a whole world of us down below, just waiting to meet you…
Kimberly, thank you so much for sharing this. I look forward to reading Dylan's book as it promises to be a shining light. You are doing very important work bringing things like this into the world.