Diane Shader Smith

Much of what Mallory writes about her illness parallels our daily reality during the COVID-19 pandemic, from the precautionary health protocols that are now commonplace to the respiratory symptoms that those who are infected are experiencing, as well as the value of resilience and community in offsetting the toll on mental health. As there is currently no cure for either end-stage lung disease or COVID-19 – and with so much anxiety surrounding this pandemic – Mallory’s story sets the stage for timely discussions about chronic illness, public health, the benefits of journaling, mental health, end-of-life choices, bioethics and legacy. Diane Shader Smith is prepared to discuss the important insights her daughter Mallory shares in Salt in My Soul, through virtual talks and future in-person events.

Mallory Smith passed away from a superbug at the age of 25, two months after she received a double lung transplant. As she was dying, her father moved mountains to get an experimental treatment called phage therapy for her; a treatment that had been used 100 years ago before penicillin was discovered. Once it was, penicillin’s patent protection and financial incentives rendered work on phage therapy obsolete. The United States Navy responded to Mallory's story and provided the phage therapy cocktail that Mallory received. Tragically, it didn’t arrive in time to save her, but the autopsy revealed that it had started to work – and would have saved her life if she had gotten it earlier. Diane Shader Smith shares this riveting story about mobilizing the medical community and the power each of us has to make a difference. With the insight of an experienced medical insider—and the heart and passion of a grieving mother—Diane walks audiences through this simultaneously exhilarating and heartbreaking story of a father's dogged determination to save his daughter and the novel treatment that is now being used to save others.

Mallory Smith was a 6 foot-tall, athletic girl with a beaming smile and infectious energy; all traits which helped propel her through life. Because she looked so healthy, most people didn’t know that Mallory had cystic fibrosis or that she suffered in silence. Diagnosed at the age of three, Mallory grew up knowing she had a chronic illness that would someday kill her. It’s why she wrote in detail about her treatments and hospital stays, the transcendent intimacy she developed with her beloved doctors, the unexpected community she found in hospitals, and the problems imposed by the medical system she depended on. Her ability to create poetry out of prosaic experiences and vivid vocabulary are why so many call Mallory’s memoir, Salt in My Soul, life changing. Diane Shader Smith shares the arc of Mallory’s story and the important insights Mallory lands on in a colorful presentation that’s engaging and educational.

"'Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?'’ That question from the musical Hamilton inspires Diane Shader Smith, a captivating speaker, to share the legacy her daughter leaves with Salt in My Soul: An Unfinished Life by Mallory Smith. A gifted and prolific writer, Mallory died at the age of 25, two months after receiving a double lung transplant. The passionate environmentalist, three sport varsity athlete and champion of universal health care kept a private journal for ten years. Before she died, Mallory asked Diane to publish the parts that might help others. Specifically, her writing about issues so many college students experience: invisible illness, body image, mental health, access to healthcare, the imposter syndrome, wanting to fit in, feeling insecure, grappling with independence, worrying about the future, her longing for love, her rage at callous health insurers and grief. Mallory writes: “I feel like people with CF are privy to secrets it takes most other people a lifetime to understand.” Diane’s inspiring talk about her daughter’s coming of age offers informative insights and enables her to connect with students—and leaves them questioning what their own legacies will be.

The global health threat AMR poses is catastrophic, but the general public remains ignorant about its devastating impact. Diane Shader Smith raises awareness for this silent pandemic by offering a first-hand account of her daughter’s experience battling a superbug, underscoring the urgency to develop new treatments and faster diagnostics, and explaining the international security risks. Using colorful and engaging slides, she shares compelling insights about the deadly consequences of AMR and reminds us that while compromised communities are disproportionately affected, no one is safe.