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Mallory Smith

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Mallory Smith
Born(1992-10-12)October 12, 1992
DiedNovember 15, 2017(2017-11-15) (aged 25)
OccupationAuthor
NationalityUnited States
Alma materStanford University
GenreMemoirs
Notable worksBreathing for a Living

Mallory Smith (October 12, 1992 - November 15, 2017) was an author and cystic fibrosis advocate.

Early life

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.[1][2][3] The disease cripples by inhibiting oxygen and nutrient absorption required for growth and energy[4] 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.[5] She maintained a 4.3 grade point average,[1] was captain of three different team sports, and was elected prom queen.[5]

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 rare, aggressive superbug with no known treatment.[6] This allowed her to push for experimental options with bacteriophage treatment, which engineers viruses to destroy bacteria.[6] She attended Stanford University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa,[5][7] majoring in human biology with a concentration in environmental anthropology.[1] 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.[8] After graduation, Smith became a cystic fibrosis advocate and began work as a writer.[7] However, her lungs took a turn for the worse in 2012 and she received a lung transplant on September 11, 2017.[4] Unfortunately the superbug had survived in her throat[7] and she passed away on November 15, 2017 at age 25 before bacteriophage treatment could be successfully administered, but provided lung samples to further the research for other patients.[2]

Advocacy

Smith's determination to live with joy despite her physical prognosis was inspirational to research and the cystic fibrosis community[1][4][6] 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[8] while Lunges4Lungs gained national awareness including corporate support from companies like Lululemon[4] and star support including Katy Perry.[5]

Works

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,[9]. 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.[10][8] 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.[8]

List of works

  • 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

  1. ^ a b c d "In the Spotlight: Mallory Smith". www.cff.org. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Beverly High Graduate, Cystic Fibrosis Advocate Mallory Smith Dies At 25". Beverly Hills Courier. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  3. ^ Bethesda, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 4550 Montgomery Ave Suite 1100 N.; Md 20814301-951-4422 800-344-4823. "About Cystic Fibrosis". www.cff.org. Retrieved 2020-02-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b c d Gardner, Karen (20 September 2017). "CF Patient, Recovering from Double Transplant, Inspires 'Lunges4Lungs' Fundraiser". Cystic Fibrosis New Today. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d Harward, Jason (13 December 2017). "Facing mortality: a young woman's lifelong battle with illness". HS Insider Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  6. ^ a b c Boodman, Eric (12 November 2017). "To save a young woman besieged by superbugs, scientists hunt a killer virus". PBS. NewsHour Productions LLC. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  7. ^ a b c Abcarian, Robin. "A memoir unlike any you've read: A young woman's inspiring struggle with her invisible killer". latimes.com. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
  8. ^ a b c d Siegel, Tatiana (19 February 2019). "'Hunting Ground' Directors to Make Film Based on Memoir of Cystic Fibrosis Victim". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  9. ^ Foster, Christine (20 March 2018). "Farewells: Young Alumna and Writer". Stanford Magazine. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  10. ^ "Salt in My Soul By Mallory Smith". Penguin Random House. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
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