“One thing that you are left in no doubt from the film is that love conquers all”: Salt in my Soul review

Blog - Tim Wotton -

Tim Wotton, 51, reviews Salt in My Soul, the documentary film which tells the story of Mallory Smith

Having watched the moving documentary Salt in My Soul about Californian Mallory Smith and her fight against the odds with cystic fibrosis (CF); one particular CF Truth shone through… we don’t always look ill from the outside!

One of the main issues with our often-hidden illness is the fact that from the outside, most people would have little idea of the suffering inside the body; what lies beneath the façade that we tend to show to the outside world.

Mallory tragically died aged only 25. Externally, she was tall, blond, athletic, sporty, academic and well-liked by her peers. On the inside, she was being eaten away by her CF and a superbug, B. cepacia, which was resistant to every medicine.

The documentary, which mainly focuses on the last six years of her life, is a fine piece of film, and gets to the very heart of what the whole family went through being so close to Mallory’s struggle. Therein lies another CF Truth - by symbiosis, the family of a loved one with CF goes through a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows.  

The power of love

As a 51-year-old person with CF, who is married and a parent to a 14-year-old son, the film resonated with me on many levels, both as someone with the condition and as a father and husband.

There are many similarities in my upbringing and Mallory's. I was unlucky to have CF, but very lucky with the support and love of my parents and brothers.

Mallory’s family collective was amazing in their unflinching support for Mallory, which she would have felt to her very core. Her mum, Diane, was there every step of the way and bore every ounce of her pain. Her father, Mark, looked tirelessly for innovative treatments, like phage therapy, which could eradicate the superbug in her weak body.

One thing that you are left in no doubt from the film is that love conquers all. Similar to my own life experience, there was the deepest love and connection between Mallory and her close family. This love was created in the many moments of suffering but, just as importantly, in the moments of pure joy, appreciating the smaller things in life which can easily go unnoticed.

Mallory Smith, like every person with CF who passes too early, deserved to live longer and would have continued to make a difference to the world. Most healthy people count the days - but Mallory made the days count and achieved more in her 25 years than many people achieve in a lifetime.

A must-watch film – both for the CF population and those without CF

I personally think the non-CF population need to see this film the most. It will increase their understanding of the harsh realities of the disease, appreciate our suffering from within, and make them realise that there are superbugs that cannot be treated, which need extra funds to bring them to the fore.


Tim Wotton is the author of How Have I Cheated Death? A Short and Merry Life with Cystic Fibrosis.

Salt in My Soul tells the story of Mallory Smith, author of the posthumously published memoir of the same name. Salt in My Soul is now streaming on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Google Play and more.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic condition which causes sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system. Over 10,800 people in the UK are living with cystic fibrosis (CF), but the condition is still widely misunderstood. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has made common many of the everyday experiences of the CF community. The sacrifices made. The distances kept. The milestones missed. 

But while many people now look forward to a return to normality as restrictions lift, the effects of the pandemic are not over for all of us. Those with cystic fibrosis must go on experiencing them, every day. 

Because we were coughing before it went viral. 

Find out more

Caitlin

Break the ice with #CFTruths

Help others understand what everyday life is like for people with CF.

Your donation will make a difference:

Select amount
Select amount