Unflappable

A journey through rare disease, a dream of flying, and the gratitude found in acceptance.

When Jonathan first threw his parachute-in that instant-the rushing air was still, the falling stopped, and a dream of flying began to take shape. He began to dream of soaring, free from the burdens he carried, held in the sky by a fabric wing. A cancer diagnosis began a cascade—surgeries, treatments, recurrences, and life-altering side effects. The flying dream was uncertain.

Told with candor, vivid detail, and flashes of humor, Unflappable: Soaring Beyond a Diagnosis is more than a story of rare disease, it’s about learning from hardship, finding community, and discovering healing, even when cures are out of reach. Jonathan shares how he learned to accept a body forever changed, let go of old identities, and move through turbulent moments in life with grace and resilience.

For anyone touched by disease or disability, those who fly or dream, for medical practitioners seeking greater understanding, Unflappable offers an honest and compelling look at what it means to live fully in the face of uncertainty.

Author Biography

Jonathan A. Hutton is a writer, paraglider pilot, and public servant who is known for his boundless curiosity and insightful storytelling. Diagnosed at age thirty with recurrent head and neck cancer, Jonathan’s writing blends resilience and wit, inviting readers to see the world through a unique lens and to consider what hardship can teach us. Beyond writing, Jonathan is an Ambassador for the Head & Neck Cancer Alliance and serves as a board member on several paragliding-related organizations.