"Guts, Glitter, Glory": Finding Hope in Hopelessness

Guts, Glitter, Glory, Finding Hope in Hopelessness is Dylan Mortimer’s navigation of hope inside a seemingly hopeless situation. Born in 1979 with Cystic Fibrosis, the lifespan of the disease was 14-17 years. He fought the disease until he was listed for lung transplant at 37 years old. He received a life-saving transplant and felt the best he had in his life, for about a year. His lungs rejected because of antibodies and was placed on the transplant list again. But because of the antibodies, he was now screening out 71% of people who were a match to him. In other words, it was extremely unlikely that he would find a match. It is in this space that this book was written.

How do we have hope in hopeless situations? A question Dylan has pondered throughout his life, but none more so than this moment. Through reflection, artwork and prayer, he mines these questions to reveal what became his hope when all else was failing him, including his breath.

This book aims to be a source of hope for all but especially those going through difficult and seemingly impossible situations. Dylan is a painter and sculptor who navigates around ideas of “Offensive Hope” and “Offensive Joy”. It would seem offensive to have hope in many situations that appear hopeless. In his art he transforms objects and symbols that have been traumatic for him into shiny, glistening beacons of hope and joy. Here he writes his experience in depth and detail to paint a picture of the struggle… and where it led.