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.

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Southern Smash

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On the blog...

Finding Strength in My One Boob Reflection

Red, Hot and ANGRY Boob

Doing the Hard Things: My Prophylactic Double Mastectomy

Roadmap to LIFE: Countdown to Surgery

Ten Years Later and Still Choosing LIFE

My 2020 Birthday: We Can Do Hard Things

mccalldempsey

Tomorrow I will have my third surgery this week, f

Today has been...dare I say it...a good day! For t

Today has been...dare I say it...a good day! For the first time in weeks, my pain has been managed and I’ve felt like myself again. The IV antibiotics have a lovely side effect of severe nausea and migraine-like headaches. Today, they have been minimal and I’ve soaked up feeling somewhat like myself. Today we met with my amazing plastic surgeon, Dr. DeFazio, and received the wonderful news that cultures from Monday’s surgery remain clear! That means the infection is no longer in my left breast area. With this news, we are moving forward with surgery this Monday to place the left expander. There is, of course, still risk of infection returning, but this is our best bet to place the expander and not lose my skin fold. If we don’t try, reconstruction will have to wait and will be more complicated. My reflection is not easy to look at. Where my breast once was is a caved in mess of skin and stitches. I know so many other women have been in this position. I would never wish this upon anyone, but I won’t waste time wondering “Why me?” I choose to hang on to hope and knowing I can keep doing the hard things. Today has been a good day. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring so for today, I hold the faith, embrace the laughter and find the light in all the love around me. Cheers to TODAY. 💕💕💕 . . . . . . #wecandohardthings #repeat #againandagain #prophylacticdoublemastectomy #expanderinfection #genetictesting #geneticmutation #chek2 #beatingcancertothepunch #serratiamarcescens #piccline #jpdrain #infection #grateful #findthelight #lovemytribe #breastreconstruction #jacksonvilleflorida #florida

How it’s going ➡️ How it started Six days i

How it’s going ➡️ How it started Six days in the hospital. Two surgeries in 48 hours. One nasty bacterial infection 🦠 Hard things ✅✅✅✅ Yesterday’s surgery removed the wound vac and cleared and cleaned the tissue. My plastic surgeon and infectious disease doctor decided it was safest not to place another expander with the serratia bacterial infection. I need more time on antibiotics They closed me up with another JP drain and I now sport a PICC line to continue my IV antibiotics for the next two weeks. More to come on next steps. But for right now, this mama is busting out to see her hubby and babies. There are no words for the overwhelming love, prayers and messages. I am beyond grateful. Please keep them coming this journey isn’t over. But I will keep marching on one day at a time. Doing the hard the things with the support of the extraordinary tribe around me. Massive shout out to the compassionate and amazing Dr Defazio and @floridaplasticsurgerygroup team and @baptisthealthjx for the incredible care and support. And of course to my beautiful momma. There are no words. 💕💕💕💕 . . . . . . #wecandohardthings #doingtheghardthings #serratiamarcescens #cantevenpronounceit #prophylacticdoublemastectomy #geneticmutation #genetictesting #chek2 #expanderissue #dischargetime #baptisthospital #jacksonville #florida

Here we go again...doing the hard things. Heading

Here we go again...doing the hard things. Heading back for another surgery this afternoon. The plan is to wash out the infection and depending on what they see, they will place another expander *if* the site is pristine. If not, they will close me up and I will remain on IV antibiotics and reconstruction will look a lot different and much more difficult. Of course, goal number one is HEALTH! I told Dr DeFazio I’m not trying out for Sports Illustrated Mom Edition. I just want to be infection free and back with my babies...two boobs, one boob. Don’t care. Just get me healthy! There are a million factors and scenarios going into this surgery...including blood cultures, infection type (it’s a serratia) etc. but I have the utmost trust in my surgeon (Dr DeFazio) to make the best decision today for my health. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was nervous, but I’ve got my ride or die (my mom) by my side and my amazing partner in life @jordandempseygolf. We’ve done all the hard things together and this is just another bump in the road. Thankful for my tribe of gals that keep me laughing and most importantly cry with me. And thankful to have such an army of prayer Warriors out there. Asking for prayers with a promise to always and forever pray and pay it forward. See y’all on the flip side. 💕💕💕💕 . . . . . . . #wecandohardthings #together #prayerwarriors #prophylacticdoublemastectomy #gonewrong #infection #serratia #bacteria #goawaybugs #surgery #gratitude #staypositive #jacksonville #florida

Surgery ✅ Hard Things (Again) ✅ Everything we

Surgery ✅ Hard Things (Again) ✅ Everything went well. My amazingly kind and caring plastic surgeon Dr DeFazio came to me in pre op with a new plan. We would take out the expander, wash out the infection area and place a Wound Vac. Then Monday he can go in and safely place expander. This option helps save my skin, nipples and other possible long term effects. After surgery, Dr DeFazio said the site was extremely infected. I feel relief that the infection is gone and continues to be aggressively treated. I am doing okay. Feeling weak, hurting exhausted (mentally and physically) but grateful for all the love and REMINDERS that we can do hard things. Again. More than anything THANK YOU for reminding me I am not alone. Even when I am alone in this hospital (thank you Covid hospital hours), you let me know I’ve got an army with me. Always. Thank you all. My cups runneth over. 💕 . . . . . . #prophylacticdoublemastectomy #genetictesting #geneticmutation #chek2 #expanderinfection #oneboobwonder #jesustakethewheel #wecandohardthings #again #doingitformykids #missinghome #jacksonville #florida

Within an hour of my last post, my fever spiked to

Within an hour of my last post, my fever spiked to 102 and I was admitted to the hospital last night. My left expander is extremely infected and my drain output is something out of a bad horror film. While the hope was for IV antibiotics to work, we don’t have time to wait. I’m heading back for emergency surgery to remove expander and wash out the infection. We can do hard things. I’m REALLY exhausted from doing hard things but I’ll get through. Thanks for all the love, light and prayers. See y’all on the flip side. Oh and silver lining...Safe to say I’ve met my 2021 medical deductible 🙌 Let’s do the hard things....AGAIN. . . . . . . #uniboobsunite #oneboobatatime #expander #prophylacticdoublemastectomy #wecandohardthings #again #again #geneticmutation #herewego #again

After Wednesday’s post op/expander fill appointm

After Wednesday’s post op/expander fill appointment, I went to bed hurting but nothing alarming. By 2am, I was in excruciating pain. One look at my very red, hot and swollen left breast this morning, I knew I had to call the doctor. They got me right in. I never saw any of this coming. Recovery in any shape or form is mentally exhausting. Please pray these antibiotics work. And fast. Full update on blog “Red, Hot and Angry Boob” // link in bio . . . . . . . #prophylacticmastectomy #previvor #wecandohardthings #preventativehealth #infection #expanders #shorttermpainlongtermrelief #chek2 #genetics #genetictesting #geneticmutation

Today marks one week since my prophylactic double

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

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