Mallory Smith
Mallory Smith (October 12, 1992 - November 15, 2017) was an author and cystic fibrosis advocate.
Mallory Smith | |
---|---|
Born | October 12, 1992 |
Died | November 15, 2017 25) | (aged
Occupation | Author |
Nationality | United States |
Alma mater | Stanford University |
Genre | Memoirs |
Notable works | Breathing for a Living |
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
References
- "In the Spotlight: Mallory Smith". www.cff.org. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- "Beverly High Graduate, Cystic Fibrosis Advocate Mallory Smith Dies At 25". Beverly Hills Courier. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- 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.
- Gardner, Karen (20 September 2017). "CF Patient, Recovering from Double Transplant, Inspires 'Lunges4Lungs' Fundraiser". Cystic Fibrosis New Today. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Siegel, Tatiana (19 February 2019). "'Hunting Ground' Directors to Make Film Based on Memoir of Cystic Fibrosis Victim". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- Foster, Christine (20 March 2018). "Farewells: Young Alumna and Writer". Stanford Magazine. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- "Salt in My Soul By Mallory Smith". Penguin Random House. Retrieved 6 March 2019.