Published in the USA under the title \u2018Wild and Precious Life\u2019 and in the UK with the title \u2018A Mother\u2019s Love\u2019, this text is Deborah Ziegler\u2019s account of the life of her daughter, assisted dying activist Brittany Maynard, from early childhood until her death, and of Brittany\u2019s determination not only to access assisted dying for herself, but to spark legislative change in her home state of California, across the USA, and beyond. The text provides a vivid, and not always entirely positive, portrait of Brittany, with emphasis on what her mother deems some of her most cherished characteristics. While the text predominantly recounts Brittany\u2019s story, the author\u2019s voice is clear within it, as she seeks to establish her role as Brittany\u2019s mother. The text features various implicit and explicit reflections on what it means to be a \u2018good\u2019 mother, both during the narration of Brittany\u2019s childhood, teenage years, and young adulthood and following her terminal diagnosis and decision to access assisted dying. Associated with these reflections are expressions of guilt over what Debroah deems missed signs of Brittany\u2019s illness and of supposed failures in being a \u2018good\u2019 mother. The text also positions Brittany\u2019s life story in dialogue with the stories of other friends and family members, anchoring it in a wider family narrative. Deborah\u2019s personal faith becomes an important aspect of the text, too, particularly in terms of the tension she experiences, at times, between supporting her daughter\u2019s wish for an assisted death, and even considering ending her own life alongside her daughter, and her faith position on these issues. That said, as the text progresses, Deborah seems to be able to reconcile the two, offering an interesting insight into the impact of personal experience on religious conviction. In recounting her experience of grief and of coming to terms with Brittany\u2019s decision to end her life, we might suggest that the text becomes an active component of this process (albeit partly after the fact). This suggestion provides a helpful means of understanding Deborah\u2019s recurrent engagement with Elisabeth K\u00fcbler-Ross\u2019s model of grieving stages, as the text becomes a space in which these stages can be voiced and worked through.<\/p>
Aesthetically, the text is a rich tapestry, woven from dated, diary-style chapters that move alternately back and forth between Brittany\u2019s life prior to diagnosis (beginning from early childhood) and her current life. The text offers detailed, intimate insights into Brittany\u2019s life, with some details painting her in a less than positive light, but which contribute to the public knowledge of Brittany as a key figure in the lobby for legislative change regarding assisted dying. The intimacy of the insights shared is juxtaposed with detailed explanations of medical procedures and test results, which use technical medical terminology, capturing something of the disorientation experienced by Brittany and her family following their arrival in this new and disconcerting world. The text is also dense with intertextual references: each chapter features its own epigraph, which is often drawn from a work of literature or other cultural production. Perhaps these epigraphs offer a nod to Brittany\u2019s own love of reading and wider engagement with culture. A recurrent intertext also develops with the character of Mary Poppins, who begins as an important figure in Brittany\u2019s childhood, but to whom, as Brittany grows and eventually becomes a nanny herself, she is compared. Various works of poetry are likewise referenced throughout the text, with the poems of Mary Oliver (a poet cherished by mother and daughter alike) occupying a particularly important role, not least as they are read to Brittany following her administration of the lethal medication. Allusions to other media and research articles, and cultural productions on the topic of assisted dying (such as the film How to die in Oregon<\/em>, which Brittany invites her husband, mother and step-father to watch as a means of educating themselves), alongside reproduced emails, text messages, social media and blog posts authored by Brittany and Deborah weave further intertextual connections into this increasingly multimodal depiction of Brittany\u2019s life, death, and (pre- and post-death) activism. The structure of the text also seems significant: 30 chapters, arguably representative of Brittany\u2019s almost 30 years of life, with an epilogue (the 31st chapter) recounting Deborah\u2019s trip to Machu Picchu, a trip she promised Brittany she would make, exactly one year after her daughter\u2019s death, and which serves, in some ways, to close the loop on both the text and this portion of Deborah\u2019s life.<\/p> First and foremost, this text serves to extend and deepen public knowledge of Brittany Maynard (albeit that Dan Diaz, Brittany\u2019s husband, has questioned the accuracy of some of the episodes recounted) and to ensure that her legacy lives on. It highlights various reactions to Brittany\u2019s story, including the popular media frenzy that surrounded Brittany\u2019s decision to end her life, and Deborah\u2019s response to the Vatican\u2019s critique of Brittany\u2019s decision, among others. The desire for Brittany\u2019s story to bring about legislative change is likewise apparent in the text, which includes, for example, a transcript of Brittany\u2019s recorded legislative testimony. The final chapter also offers explicit engagement with the legislative impact of Brittany\u2019s story, primarily in the passing of California\u2019s End of Life Option Act (2015), while the text\u2019s acknowledgements clearly point to the advocacy work in which Deborah was and continues to be engaged. The fact that Deborah decided to write and publish this text created a level of tension between her and Dan Diaz, who wrote, in a statement posted on Facebook, that Brittany did not want her mother to tell her story. Indeed, Brittany reportedly went as far as to say that \u2018[her] mother might be the biggest problem regarding protecting [her] story.\u2019 In her will, Brittany signed the rights to her story over to her husband, as he was \u2018the only one that [was there] for [her] the entire time and [\u2026] the only one that c[ould] share the meaningful private moments that [she] would want shared\u2019, and made him promise to ensure her story would only be shared within the parameters she had set prior to her death. Nonetheless, Deborah Ziegler has become an important figure in her own right, joining the Board of the US lobby group Death With Dignity and contributing to discussions regarding the introduction of assisted dying across the USA. Through her work with Death With Dignity, Deborah has sought to extend the impact of Brittany\u2019s story and to continue pursuing the fulfilment of her daughter\u2019s desire to effect legislative change, so that no other US citizen has to experience what she and her family did by having to leave their home and move state in order to access assisted dying. Although not widely cited in parliamentary debates on the topic, Deborah\u2019s advocacy work with interest groups continues to feed into legislative and societal conversations regarding assisted dying in the US.<\/p>","cover":{"ratio":1.4998676898650436,"url":"https:\/\/assistedlab.ch\/media\/pages\/textual\/wild-and-precious-life-a-mother-s-love-by-deborah-ziegler\/6e92435c2f-1779185070\/california_state_capitol_from_capitol_mall_-_sacramento_-26429122855-2410x-q90.jpg","caption":"Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons"},"data":[{"title":"Title","value":"\u2018Wild and Precious Life\u2019 \/ \u2018A Mother\u2019s Love\u2019 by Deborah Ziegler"},{"title":"Author","value":"Deborah Ziegler"},{"title":"Year","value":"2016"},{"title":"Language","value":"English"},{"title":"Legislative Context","value":"End of Life Option Act, 2015"},{"title":"Tags","value":"High Profile Cases \u2022 Constitutional Litigation \u2022 Effects on Family"},{"title":"Legislative context","value":"End of Life Option Act, 2015 (United States)"},{"title":"Author of entry","value":"Jordan McCullough"},{"title":"Last updated","value":"15.06.2026 at 20:33"}],"toggles":[{"title":"Reviews","list":[{"text":"Rebecca Foster, \u2018Wild and Precious Life\u2019 by Deborah Ziegler, The Bookbag, 2018","link":"https:\/\/www.thebookbag.co.uk\/reviews\/Wild_and_Precious_Life_by_Deborah_Ziegler","pathname":"thebookbag.co.uk"},{"text":"\u2018Wild and Precious Life\u2019 by Deborah Ziegler, Seven Ponds, 2017","link":"https:\/\/blog.sevenponds.com\/lending-insight\/book-review-wild-and-precious-life-by-debra-zeigler","pathname":"blog.sevenponds.com"},{"text":"\u2018Wild and Precious Life,\u2019 by Deborah Ziegler, Rebellious: Magazine for Women, 2017","link":"https:\/\/rebelliousmagazine.com\/wild-and-precious-life-by-deborah-ziegler","pathname":"rebelliousmagazine.com"},{"text":"\u2018Wild and Precious Life\u2019, Booklist, 2016","link":"https:\/\/www.booklistonline.com\/products\/8357076","pathname":"booklistonline.com"},{"text":"\u2018Wild and Precious Life\u2019 by Deborah Ziegler, Kirkus, 2016","link":"https:\/\/www.kirkusreviews.com\/book-reviews\/deborah-ziegler\/wild-and-precious-life","pathname":"kirkusreviews.com"},{"text":"\u2018Wild and Precious Life\u2019, Publisher\u2019s Weekly, 2016","link":"https:\/\/www.publishersweekly.com\/9781501128516","pathname":"publishersweekly.com"},{"text":"\u2018Wild and Precious Life\u2019 by Deborah Ziegler, Los Angeles Public Library Neighborhood Reads, 2016","link":"https:\/\/lapl.overdrive.com\/library\/neighborhoodreads\/media\/2716036","pathname":"lapl.overdrive.com"}]},{"title":"Media citations","list":[{"text":"Charlotte Zink, \u2018Mama, lass mich gehen\u2019: Mutter spricht \u00fcber letzte Stunden von Brittany Maynard, Focus, 2017","link":"https:\/\/www.focus.de\/kultur\/kino_tv\/focus-fernsehclub\/tv-kolumne-markus-lanz-brittany-maynard-mutter-spricht-ueber-letzte-stunden-vor-dem-tod_id_7197292.html","pathname":"focus.de"},{"text":"Nicole Weisensee Egan, Brittany Maynard\u2019s Mother: Love Has Given Me the Strength to Carry On, People, 2017","link":"https:\/\/people.com\/human-interest\/brittany-maynard-debbie-ziegler-death-with-dignity","pathname":"people.com"},{"text":"Amy Wang, Mom of Brittany Maynard, who used Oregon\u2019s Death with Dignity law, publishes memoir, Oregon Live, 2016","link":"https:\/\/www.oregonlive.com\/books\/2016\/11\/brittany_maynard_mother_memoir.html","pathname":"oregonlive.com"},{"text":"Maureen Cavanaugh, Brittany Maynard\u2019s Mother Shares Her Story To Help Families Confronting Terminal Illness, KPBS, 2016","link":"https:\/\/www.kpbs.org\/news\/midday-edition\/2016\/11\/08\/brittany-maynards-mother","pathname":"kpbs.org"},{"text":"John Wilkens, Brittany Maynard\u2019s mom writes book to honor promise to dying daughter, The San Diego Union-Tribune, 2016","link":"https:\/\/www.sandiegouniontribune.com\/2016\/11\/06\/brittany-maynards-mom-writes-book-to-honor-promise-to-dying-daughter","pathname":"sandiegouniontribune.com"},{"text":"Deborah Ziegler, Like my daughter, all Americans should have the right to die with dignity, CNN, 2016","link":"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2016\/10\/31\/opinions\/brittany-maynard-assisted-suicide-ziegler","pathname":"edition.cnn.com"},{"text":"Eun Kyung Kim, Brittany Maynard\u2019s husband: Mom\u2019s memoir goes against my late wife\u2019s wishes, Today, 2016","link":"https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/brittany-maynard-s-husband-mom-s-memoir-goes-against-my-t104276","pathname":"today.com"},{"text":"Daniel Kay, Brittany Maynard\u2019s mom, husband clash over her story, USA Today News, 2016","link":"https:\/\/eu.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/nation\/2016\/10\/24\/brittany-maynards-mom-husband-clash-over-her-story\/92671912","pathname":"eu.usatoday.com"},{"text":"Matthew Murphy, Brittany Maynard\u2019s widower Dan Diaz, mum Deborah Ziegler in stoush over book \u2018Wild and Precious Life\u2019, News Corp Australia Network, 2016","link":"https:\/\/www.news.com.au\/lifestyle\/real-life\/true-stories\/brittany-maynards-widower-dan-diaz-mum-deborah-ziegler-in-stoush-over-book-wild-and-precious-life\/news-story\/5155e634577b76537387fa1b129d4a81","pathname":"news.com.au"},{"text":"Nicole Weisensee Egan, Brittany Maynard\u2019s Husband Reveals Why She Chose Him to Tell Her Life Story, People, 2016","link":"https:\/\/people.com\/human-interest\/brittany-maynards-husband-reveals-why-she-chose-him-to-tell-her-life-story","pathname":"people.com"},{"text":"Lisa Ryan, Brittany Maynard\u2019s Mother on Loss, Denial, and Why She Wrote Her Book, The Cut, 2016","link":"https:\/\/www.thecut.com\/2016\/10\/brittany-maynards-mother-on-why-she-wrote-her-book.html","pathname":"thecut.com"},{"text":"Deborah Ziegler, This Is How My Daughter, Brittany Maynard, Asked Me to Help Her Die, Good Housekeeping, 2016","link":"https:\/\/www.goodhousekeeping.com\/life\/parenting\/a40592\/brittany-maynard-deborah-ziegler-excerpt","pathname":"goodhousekeeping.com"},{"text":"Rory Devine, Maynard\u2019s Mother Continues Fight for Right to Die, NBCS San Diego, 2015","link":"https:\/\/www.nbcsandiego.com\/news\/local\/brittany-maynard-mother-continues-fight-for-right-to-die\/96777\/","pathname":"nbcsandiego.com"},{"text":"Pauline Bartolone, \u2018Right to Die\u2019 Proposal Sparks Tears, Impassioned Testimony at California Capitol, CapRadio, 2015","link":"https:\/\/www.capradio.org\/articles\/2015\/03\/25\/right-to-die-proposal-sparks-tears-impassioned-testimony-at-california-capitol","pathname":"capradio.org"},{"text":"Brittany Maynard\u2019s Family to Release Her Video Testimony Urging Passage of Medical Aid-in-Dying Bills in 45 States, PR Newswire, 2015","link":"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/brittany-maynards-family-to-release-her-video-testimony-urging-passage-of-medical-aid-in-dying-bills-in-45-states-300055215.html","pathname":"prnewswire.com"},{"text":"John Wilkens, Maynard\u2019s mom now a right-to-die advocate, The San Diego Union-Tribute, 2015","link":"https:\/\/www.sandiegouniontribune.com\/2015\/02\/28\/maynards-mom-now-right-to-die-advocate","pathname":"sandiegouniontribune.com"}]},{"title":"Interest Group citations","list":[{"text":"Deborah Zeigler, Brittany\u2019s Legacy, Death with Dignity, 2020","link":"https:\/\/deathwithdignity.org\/news\/2020\/11\/brittanys-legacy-2","pathname":"deathwithdignity.org"},{"text":"The Long Roads to Victory: Celebrating Anniversaries of Success in California and Maine, Death with Dignity, 2020","link":"https:\/\/deathwithdignity.org\/news\/2020\/06\/celebrating-anniversaries-california-and-maine","pathname":"deathwithdignity.org"},{"text":"Deborah Ziegler, Death with Dignity National Center, 2019","link":"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/423452390","pathname":"vimeo.com"},{"text":"Brittany Maynard\u2019s Legacy, Five Years On, Death with Dignity, 2019","link":"https:\/\/deathwithdignity.org\/news\/2019\/11\/brittany-maynards-legacy-five-years-on","pathname":"deathwithdignity.org"},{"text":"Debbie Ziegler Shares Her Daughter\u2019s Journey to End Her Life With Dignity, A Life & Death Conversation with Dr Bob Uslander, 2018","link":"https:\/\/podtail.com\/podcast\/a-life-death-conversation-with-dr-bob-uslander\/debbie-ziegler-shares-her-daughter-s-journey-to-en","pathname":"podtail.com"},{"text":"#Assisted Dying : Human rights in the 21st Century, ADMD bulletin trimestriel, 3e trimestre, n 149, 2018","link":"https:\/\/www.admd.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/E_bulletin_149-.pdf","pathname":"admd.be"},{"text":"Death with Dignity National Center & Political Fund Annual Report, Death with Dignity, 2017","link":"https:\/\/actionnetwork.org\/groups\/death-with-dignity\/files\/67665\/download","pathname":"actionnetwork.org"},{"text":"Sterbehilfe aus Sicht einer Mutter, \u00c4rzte Zeitung, 20 March 2017","link":"https:\/\/www.aerztezeitung.de\/Panorama\/Sterbehilfe-aus-Sicht-einer-Mutter-306658.html","pathname":"aerztezeitung.de"},{"text":"\u2018What Brittany Asked Us To Do\u2019: Deborah Ziegler\u2019s Advocacy For Death with Dignity Honors A Promise To Her Daughter, Death with Dignity, 2017","link":"https:\/\/deathwithdignity.org\/news\/2017\/10\/brittany-asked-us-deborah-zieglers-advocacy-death-dignity","pathname":"deathwithdignity.org"},{"text":"Brittany Maynard\u2019s Mom Talks About her Daughter\u2019s Life and Chosen Death, Hemlock Society of San Diego, 2017","link":"https:\/\/www.hemlocksocietysandiego.org\/portfolio-item\/brittany-maynards-mom-talks-about-her-daughters-life-and-chosen-death","pathname":"hemlocksocietysandiego.org"},{"text":"New Memoir: \u2018Wild and Precious Life\u2019 by Deborah Ziegler, Ohio End of Life Options, 2016","link":"https:\/\/ohiooptions.org\/wild-and-precious-life-by-deborah-ziegler","pathname":"ohiooptions.org"},{"text":"Calif. Gov.\u2019s Signing of Aid-in-Dying Bill Should Spur Action in Other States, Compassion & Choices, 2015","link":"https:\/\/compassionandchoices.org\/news\/calif-gov-s-signing-of-aid-in-dying-bill-should-spur-action-in-other-states","pathname":"compassionandchoices.org"},{"text":"Emotional Testimony, Not Facts, Propels Passage of Physician-Assisted Suicide Bill in Senate Committee, California Catholic Conference, 2015","link":"https:\/\/cacatholic.org\/issues\/reverence-for-life\/emotional-testimony-not-facts-propels-passage-physician-assisted-suicide-bill-senate","pathname":"cacatholic.org"},{"text":"Brittany Maynard\u2019s Mother Responds to Vatican, Other Critics of Her Daughter\u2019s End-of-Life Choice, Compassion & Choices, 2014","link":"https:\/\/compassionandchoices.org\/news\/brittany-maynards-mother-responds-to-vatican-other-critics-of-her-daughters-end-of-life-choice\/","pathname":"compassionandchoices.org"}]},{"title":"Legal and Paralegal citations","list":[{"text":"Senator Catherine S. Blakespear\u2019s Our California! Book Club, 29 March 2025","link":"https:\/\/sd38.senate.ca.gov\/event\/our-california-book-club-meeting-1","pathname":"sd38.senate.ca.gov"},{"text":"Media on Demand, Senate Health Committee, California State Senate, 25 March 2015 (Deborah Ziegler)","link":"https:\/\/www.senate.ca.gov\/media-archive?title=&start_date=2015-03-25&end_date=2015-03-25","pathname":"senate.ca.gov"}]}]}