Diane Shader Smith, mother of Mallory Smith, author of Diary of a Dying Girl
Salt in My Soul, my daughter Mallory Smith’s posthumously published memoir, captivated a wide audience, from academic institutions like Harvard and Stanford to higher-profile platforms such as the White House and Capitol Hill. It also reached international forums including NATO and the European Union, as well as audiences from Paris to Perth, resonating because or celebrated because of its dynamic impact on the global dialogue about mental and physical health, pushing boundaries and breaking stigmas in profound ways. Mallory’s senior thesis advisor, Stanford Professor Sue McConnell, was prophetic when she called Mallory one of the best writers she’d seen in her twenty years of teaching.
When Penguin Random House decided to publish a young adult adaptation under the title Diary of a Dying Girl, I felt a sense of responsibility to share more of Mallory’s intimate diary entries—entries addressing her psychological well-being, body image, and the complexities of reaching adulthood, which I wasn’t ready to share in her first book. It was time to provide a more complete narrative for others facing similar mental health struggles.
Also, it was clear we had an opportunity to layer in entries about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) because this emerging global health threat had profoundly impacted Mallory’s life, and her insights could significantly contribute to public understanding and action on this critical issue. For those unfamiliar, AMR occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites develop resistance to medications, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death. Lack of awareness contributes to the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, accelerating the rate at which resistance develops and spreads. The World Health Organization identifies AMR as one of the top public health threats facing humanity.
This dual sense of duty and potential has fueled my efforts to share her story with the world, with the hope it will continue to inspire action and to enhance understanding of these critical health issues.
By merging Mallory’s coming-of-age journey with her distinctive approach to overcoming medical challenges and navigating “the system,” Diary of a Dying Girl explores the turbulent and transformative landscape of adolescence. Through her intimate and raw reflections, Mallory reveals the common challenges young people confront while dealing with the inevitable uncertainties of identity and independence.
Editorial Choices Shaping the Narrative
Adapting a collection of diary entries for young adult readers required thoughtful editorial decisions, which I made with the astute guidance of Penguin Random House Senior Editor Sara Sargent, who understands the preferences and interests of that age group. Integrating Mallory’s exploration of mental health and emphasizing AMR enhance the narrative, making it more engaging and informative. Highlighting her battle with a superbug and her courageous involvement in phage therapy compassionate use showed these critical issues in a way that speaks directly to young adults. The narrative delves into societal challenges, linking personal experiences with systemic issues in health care, environmental health, and interpersonal relationships as they interact with broader societal structures, and can perpetuate or challenge societal norms, impact mental health, and affect access to resources.
Mental Health: A Pillar of Advocacy
One of the central aspects of Mallory’s writing is the open discussion of mental health, a topic she championed fervently as vital across all life stages. Her candid reflections explore the psychological impacts of living with a chronic illness, aiming to destigmatize mental health challenges and highlighting the importance of emotional support. Her advocacy emphasizes that mental health is an essential part of overall well-being, demanding attention and understanding from society at large.
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): A Personal Battle Reflecting a Global Health Crisis
AMR emerges as a critical topic alongside mental health in Mallory’s narrative. As a top global health threat, AMR’s complexity and severity are brought to life through Mallory’s personal battle with a resistant superbug. Her experiences offer a poignant, humanizing viewpoint of this global crisis, transforming abstract statistics into a deeply personal ordeal. This integration of AMR into her story underscores the urgent need for awareness and action in tackling pervasive health challenges.
Multidimensional Resource
Diary of a Dying Girl serves as a multidimensional education tool, enriching both science and humanities curricula. The detailed account of Mallory’s challenges provides real-world applications of scientific concepts, particularly the introduction of phage therapy as a novel treatment for resistant infections. Additionally, Mallory’s use of journaling as a medium to articulate her experiences not only offers a guide through the turbulent journey of growing up but also leads by example, demonstrating the therapeutic power of writing in processing complex emotions and situations.
A Global Call to Action
Inspired by Mallory’s aspiration, “I want to write something that will change people,” I saw an opportunity to elevate global awareness of AMR with the publication of Diary of a Dying Girl by creating The Global AMR Diary website. The idea is best explained by the subtitle: “Collective Storytelling to Shift Perspectives and Shape Policy.” I reached out to the connections that Mallory’s writings had paved the way for—the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease, Biotechnology Innovation Organization among others—and proposed the idea of consolidating the myriad individual stories of AMR that had been gathered by each organization but live on their individual websites in isolation. The goal was to create a unified platform where these narratives could be shared, enhancing the visibility and impact of each story by situating it within a broader collective context.
They all said yes . . . and agreed that Mallory’s story was the perfect backdrop to launch this initiative, which was synchronized with the release of Diary of a Dying Girl. The premise was rooted in the belief that the whole is indeed greater than the sum of its parts—that by bringing together these dispersed accounts, we could foster a more comprehensive understanding and a stronger, more unified global response to AMR. It quickly garnered media attention, with coverage in the Los Angeles Times heralding “A Mother’s Loss Launches a Global Health Effort,” and Forbes emphasizing the stark reality of “4.95 Million People Die from Treatable Infections Annually. A New Project Tells Their Stories.” These headlines underscore how Mallory’s narrative has sparked significant movements in global health.
Diary of a Dying Girl also serves as a vital educational tool for students, illustrating the transformative power of advocacy and the written word. It shows how personal stories can inspire global change, emphasizing the importance of their voices in shaping public awareness and policy. Through her words, Mallory’s impact on global health remains profound and enduring, inspiring a new generation to take up the mantle of change.
Ultimately . . .
Diary of a Dying Girl is more than a memoir; it is a call to understand and act on the issues of our time, seen through the eyes of my daughter Mallory, a young woman who faced a difficult life with extraordinary courage and insight.
