hi! i'm McCall!

I'm a proud and imperfect mom of two tiny humans and founder of Southern Smash. I smash scales for a living and help others smash the mental health stigma by sharing my eating disorder story. I believe resiliency is cultivated through the practice of gratitude and that there is always light, even in the darkest of times.

About

Southern Smash

Speaking

On the blog...

Roadmap to LIFE: Countdown to Surgery

Ten Years Later and Still Choosing LIFE

My 2020 Birthday: We Can Do Hard Things

Save the Nipples: Meeting My Plastic Surgeon

When Your Mammogram Isn’t So [Squishy] Funny

Beating Cancer to the Punch: My Journey to Prophylactic Mastectomy

mccalldempsey

Afternoon beach walk with my babies 💕💙 Suns

Afternoon beach walk with my babies 💕💙 Sunshine, sand and giggles. Best medicine there is. Getting better by the day thanks to the quiet and restful condo, the best Nurse Annie and the most incredible friends and family for all the love and prayers. 💕💕💕 . . . . . #momlife #motherhood #grateful #hurricanemanning #miraculousmarjorie #beachtherapy #healing #prophylacticdoublemastectomy #mastectomyrecovery #chek2 #geneticmutation #previvorjourney #genetictesting #mdanderson #jacksonville #florida

I busted out of the hospital today, but did not he

I busted out of the hospital today, but did not head home. Instead, I came to a beautiful beach front condo that my parents graciously rented for me. I tried to talk my mom out of it saying I didn’t need it. Then she reminded me of my loud (understatement) zoo of two tiny humans, a 50-lb bulldog that likes to cuddle and an outdoor cat that somehow ends up sleeping on top of me. She put up a solid argument and I am so glad for her insistence. The pain is real and so are these pesky drains. In the quiet of this place, the gravity of the last 24-hours has begun to sink in. It’s not just a physical journey, but an emotional one. Like @glennondoyle reminded me yesterday: “First the pain, now the waiting- soon THE RISING.” Until the rising, I will continue to lean into the pain and learn in the waiting...taking life and healing one day at a time. 💕 Thank you for the overwhelming amount of love and prayers. My cup truly runneth over. 💕💕💕 . . . . . . . #prophylacticdoublemastectomy #chek2 #previvor #beatingcancertothepunch #byebyeboobies #grateful #rest #heal #feelthefeels #mdanderson #baptistjacksonville #jacksonville #florida

Hard things ✅ Bye bye boobies. Hello LIFE! It’s been a long day and I am definitely hurting, but also beyond grateful. Thank you for the calls, texts, messages, prayers and love. In the midst of being dealt another shitty card, I am filled with hope for my future and comforted by all the love sent my way. Surgery went well and I get to leave tomorrow with four drains as my parting gift for a few weeks 🥴🩸Massive thanks to the best nurse and momma ever. Sister @glennondoyle’s motto carried me through: We can do hard things! I did the hard thing today and will continue to. One day at a time. 💕 . . . . . . . #prophylacticdoublemastectomy #chek2 #geneticmutation #genetics #empowered #beatingcancertothepunch #byebyeboobies #wecandohardthings #mdanderson #baptisthealthjacksonville #jacksonville #florida #lovewhatmatters

The time has come. It’s surreal. This Thursday i

The time has come. It’s surreal. This Thursday is the day. My anxiety is through the roof, but I remain grounded with family and (virtual) friends around me. My sleep has been fleeting since my appointment with my plastic surgeon last week. I left with marks across my chest that would guide this week’s surgery. My motto on repeat is @glennondoyle: “We can do hard things” and I am digging deep for every ounce of courage I can muster. With an anxious heart, I do the only thing I know to do...I write. New blog. Link up in bio. 💕 . . . . . . . . . . #prophylacticdoublemastectomy #surreal #chek2 #geneticmutation #beatcancertothepunch #lifehurdle #again #wecandohardthings #channelingglennon #mdandersoncancercenter #grateful #jacksonville #florida

How It Started ➡️ How It’s Going Ten years

How It Started ➡️ How It’s Going Ten years ago I was ringing in 2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣1️⃣ in treatment. I was devastated, ashamed and refused to accept support from family and friends. They kept reaching out and I kept putting on the mask that I “just fine”. Ten years and a lot of recovery and life lessons later...I am exactly one week away from a prophylactic double mastectomy. I am ANYTHING but fine and yet I am better than ever. Ten years of living and learning I embrace the love and support around me. I am authentically me and don’t have to pretend to be okay. I am loved for my imperfect, quirky and messy self. Tonight the calendar year might turn over, but it won’t bring a new YOU. You will wake up the same amazing you. It’s up to you to see your beauty and embrace your messy self. I’m so thankful for the me ten years ago and the brave steps I took to find myself on the path of recovery. Don’t wait for a new year, new week or new day. Every minute is a chance to grow and embrace support around you. I would not have made it through this dumpster fire year without my girl gang, my family and friends. Sending everyone health for today, tomorrow and every minute after. Party up top. Sweats on the bottom. Cheers to a new day. 💕 🎉 . . . . . . . . #bye2020 #missyounever #newday #wecandohardthings #themeof2020 #bringit2021 #covidout #prophylacticmastectomy #chek2 #previvor #pontevedra #jacksonville #florida

While 2020 was a dumpster fire, today was my favor

While 2020 was a dumpster fire, today was my favorite Christmas. Simple joys. Leggings all day. No where to go. And most of all...a healthy family. Sending love and merry wishes to all. 💕🎄🎅🏻 . . . . . . . . . #merrychristmas #merrymerry #firstcomputer #whydidsantabringamicrophone #familyfirst #momlife #motherhood #miraculousmarjorie #hurricanemanning #myloves

Let the official countdown begin... We met with m

Let the official countdown begin... We met with my oncology surgeon (the amazing Dr Samiian) today and it was a pleasantly uneventful appointment. My Breast MRI was clear. No funny business. No cancer. And I plan to keep it that way! With a clean bill of health we begin countdown the days until Thursday, January 7. While this journey has been (and continues to be) an emotional roller coaster, today I feel such peace and gratitude. Gratitude that I have the knowledge and ability to make this decision for this preventative surgery. And massively thankful for the support around me. They give me the space to feed the feels and smother me (virtual) hugs and validation. More appointments next week and then it’s GEAUX time. We can do hard things. 💪💪💪 . . . . . . #prophylacticdoublemastectomy #chek2 #genetictesting #geneticmutation #wecandohardthings #withmytribe #support #health #preventative #geauxtime #mdanderson #baptisthospital #beatingcancertothepunch #jacksonville #florida

Today the first domino fell on the path to my prop

Today the first domino fell on the path to my prophylactic double mastectomy. After an insurance delay, my Breast MRI moved from Tuesday to today. Rather than pretend I can do it all alone, I agreed to my husband’s insistent request to come with me. And I’m so glad I did. Every hospital trip comes with jitters, but this breast MRI makes this decision real, but having my partner in life @jordandempseygolf made it tolerable. What I didn’t expect to happen was the adverse affect to the contrast IV. Within seconds of them injecting the dye into my IV, I turned white as a ghost and felt like I was going yak in the face down cage they had me in the MRI machine. I stumbled out of the MRI and the tech looked at me and saw my agony, confirming some people have severe nausea from the contrast. I went home and crashed into to bed, feeling weak and super nauseous. I slept the rest of the afternoon and woke up thankful it was over. Monday morning will be my appointment with my oncology surgeon @mdandersoncancercenter Jacksonville to review today’s results and game plan for surgery. . . . . . . . . #gladthatsover #passthebarfbag #breastmri #strugglebus #hatefeelingsick #thankfulforthehusband #prophylacticmastectomy #previvor #chek2 #baptisthospitaljacksonville #jacksonville #florida

If 2020 were a game of fetch 🥴🎾 Feel free t

If 2020 were a game of fetch 🥴🎾 Feel free to tag and share with a friend who needs a giggle . . . . . . . #2020 #fetchfail #isitoveryet #covidfatigue #zoomfatigue #elsathebullie #bulliesofinstagram #eyeontheball #bringit2021 #pleasebenice #nobullieswereharmedinthisphoto #dogmom #jacksonville #florida

🔟 years ago today I took the terrifying and bra

Her shirt says it all. ⭐️ As always, beyond pr

Her shirt says it all. ⭐️ As always, beyond proud of my brave girl for doing ALL the hard things. Still in shock we ended up back in the hospital...we still haven’t paid off her January hospital bill 🤦🏼‍♀️. But such is 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣0️⃣ While we wouldn’t wish our medical history on anyone, we find such light and gratitude in the people we meet and come to love at @wolfsonchildren. This trip was no exception. Our nurse Joel was a true angel on earth...sitting with Marjorie for nearly an hour, encouraging her to take her medicine (which was GRAPE Tylenol...oral meds aren’t her strong suite). He and the whole team went above and beyond, spoiling our girl with love and toy closet bribery. And as you would expect, we ended our day with Marjorie’s favorite dinner. 🍣 @jordandempseygolf and I are going to bed with a full belly, tired body and massively grateful heart. Thank you for ALL the texts, messages and calls. Our cups runneth over and we will pray and pay it forward as always. 💕💕💕 . . . . . #miraculousmarjorie #pneumonia #again #wecandohardthings #andwedid #again #nicu #picu #pediatriccancer #survivor #brave #mygirl #proudmom #momlife #hospitallife #sodamntired #grateful #jacksonville #florida

How do you spell TIRED? Oh that’s right...2-0-2-

How do you spell TIRED? Oh that’s right...2-0-2-0 🥴 Hospital stays with this one are never a straight line (kind of like life). At midnight, I thought we were turning a corner, but then she struggled to keep her oxygen levels up. From midnight until morning, we tried every mask, cannula and sleeping position on Marjorie. It was a dance of oxygen tanks. But the only cure was and is time. Her day turned around with a 3+ hour nap, in which she kept her levels up beautifully. Tonight she is up, hair brushed, fresh nightgown and ZERO oxygen support. Prayers up for a restful night full of stable O2! More to come tomorrow. But for now, this momma is signing off with a grateful heart. Proud of my rockstar miracle girl and so thankful for all the overwhelming amount of birthday wishes and prayers for my girl. @jordandempseygolf forever grateful to the doctors and extraordinary nurses and staff at @wolfsonchildren for saving our girl...once again. 💕💕💕 . . . . . . . . #miraculousmarjorie #pneumonia #again #oxygengames #tiredmomma #is2020overyet #jesustakethewheel #wolfson #wecandohardthings #againandagain #momlife #motherhood #jacksonville #florida

Load More... Follow on Instagram