Mallory Smith
Mallory Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 12, 1992 Los Angeles |
| Died | November 15, 2017 (aged 25) |
| Occupation | Author |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Stanford University |
| Genre | Memoirs |
| Notable works | Salt in My Soul: An Unfinished Life[1] |
Mallory Beatrice Smith (October 12, 1992 – November 15, 2017) was an author and cystic fibrosis advocate.
Early life
[edit]Smith was born to Mark Smith and Diane Shader Smith on October 12, 1992, and diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a "progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time", at age 3.[2][3][4] The disease cripples by inhibiting oxygen and nutrient absorption required for growth and energy[5] with treatment regimens of more than 60 pills per day and waking up repeatedly for antibiotic IV treatments and lung exercises, yet Smith was determined to live well.[6] She maintained a 4.3 grade point average,[2] was captain of three different team sports, and was elected prom queen.[6]
By age 15, bacteria had colonized Smith's lungs, including a form of Burkholderia cenocepacia which mutated over a decade of antibiotic treatment from a normal vegetable bacteria into a rare, aggressive superbug with no known treatment.[7] This allowed her to push for experimental options with bacteriophage treatment, which engineers viruses to destroy bacteria.[7] She attended Stanford University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa,[6][8] majoring in human biology with a concentration in environmental anthropology.[2] She also worked as a senior producer on Green Grid Radio, an environmental podcast featured on KCRW, National Radio Project and State of the Human.[9] After graduation, Smith became a cystic fibrosis advocate and began work as a writer.[8] However, her lungs took a turn for the worse in 2012 and she received a lung transplant on September 11, 2017.[5] Unfortunately, the superbug had survived in her throat[8] and she died on November 15, 2017, at age 25 before bacteriophage treatment could be successfully administered. She provided lung samples to further the research for other patients.[3]
Advocacy
[edit]Smith's determination to live with joy despite her physical prognosis was inspirational to research and the cystic fibrosis community[2][5][7] Smith's outlook is credited as a driving force behind two cystic fibrosis charities. "An Evening in Mallory’s Garden" was started in 1995 and has raised more than $5 million[9] while Lunges4Lungs gained national awareness including corporate support from companies like Lululemon[5] and star support including Katy Perry.[6]
Works
[edit]In 2016 she co-authored The Gottlieb Native Garden: A California Love Story with horticulturist Susan Lenman Gottlieb which was published by the National Wildlife Federation,.[10] Her memoir, Salt in My Soul: an Unfinished Life, was posthumously edited and published at her direction by her mother, writer/publicist Diane Shader Smith through Penguin Random House on March 12, 2019.[11][9] It was subsequently optioned for production before its publication by The Invisible War and The Hunting Ground Oscar-nominated directors Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering.[9]
List of works
[edit]- The Gottlieb Native Garden: A California Love Story, National Wildlife Federation, First edition October 25, 2016, ISBN 0692783393
- Salt in My Soul: an Unfinished Life, Penguin Random House, Spiegel & Grau, First edition March 12, 2019, ISBN 1984855425
References
[edit]- ^ LaBonte, Michelle (2022). "The Value of the Patient Voice: A Review of Salt in My Soul by Mallory Smith". Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics. 32 (3): 443–446. doi:10.1017/S0963180122000433. PMID 36366957. S2CID 253457334. "Michelle LaBonte". Department of the History of Science, Harvard University.
- ^ a b c d "In the Spotlight: Mallory Smith". www.cff.org. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
- ^ a b "Beverly High Graduate, Cystic Fibrosis Advocate Mallory Smith Dies At 25". Beverly Hills Courier. November 16, 2017. Retrieved March 6, 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Bethesda, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 4550 Montgomery Ave Suite 1100 N.; Md 20814301-951-4422 800-344-4823. "About Cystic Fibrosis". www.cff.org. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c d Gardner, Karen (September 20, 2017). "CF Patient, Recovering from Double Transplant, Inspires 'Lunges4Lungs' Fundraiser". Cystic Fibrosis New Today. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
- ^ a b c d Harward, Jason (December 13, 2017). "Facing mortality: a young woman's lifelong battle with illness". HS Insider Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
- ^ a b c Boodman, Eric (November 12, 2017). "To save a young woman besieged by superbugs, scientists hunt a killer virus". PBS. NewsHour Productions LLC. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
- ^ a b c Abcarian, Robin (March 8, 2019). "A memoir unlike any you've read: A young woman's inspiring struggle with her invisible killer". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
- ^ a b c d Siegel, Tatiana (February 19, 2019). "'Hunting Ground' Directors to Make Film Based on Memoir of Cystic Fibrosis Victim". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
- ^ Foster, Christine (March 20, 2018). "Farewells: Young Alumna and Writer". Stanford Magazine. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
- ^ "Salt in My Soul By Mallory Smith". Penguin Random House. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
External links
[edit]- "Salt in My Soul". YouTube. YouTube Movies & TV. 2022.
- "Salt in My Soul discussion with Rainn Wilson". YouTube. Salt in My Soul. February 8, 2022. (sponsored by Cystic Fibrosis Research Institute; discussion moderated by Rainn Wilson with 7 other participants: Will Battersby (director of documentary), Diane Shader Smith, Micah Smith (Mallory's brother), Maya Humes (Mallory's friend), Gunnar Esiason, Steffanie A. Strathdee, and Benjamin Chan)
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