Jackie Mayer Biography

Jackie Mayer's life story and attitude are inspiring to men and women of all ages, especially patients, family members, and medical personnel. Dateline 1962: Miss Ohio's beautiful, hazel-eyed Jacquelyn Jeanne Mayer, struck by fortune's magic wand, fought back tears of joy as she earned the coveted title of Miss America, 1963, on Saturday night. The 20-year-old brunette was singing with Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians after finishing a year at Northwestern University. Miss Mayer's roommate, a previous Miss Minnesota, suggested she enter the Miss America Scholarship Organization for a chance to receive scholarship money. Her brilliance was transmitted electronically to sixty million Americans as she stood at the end of the long runway in Atlantic City, waving to thirty-thousand delighted admirers in Convention Hall. Cinderella's adventure was just getting started. Dateline 1970: Jackie Mayer, Miss America 1963, suffered a near-fatal stroke at the age of 28, putting an end to her Cinderella existence. Jackie awoke in the early hours of the morning following the family's Thanksgiving dinner, unable to move or say a single word. Jackie was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with a major stroke. Jackie, who is just 28 years old, took on the task of relearning simple activities that she had taught her 5-year-old son just months before. The tables had been turned on them. She and her 9-month-old daughter Kelly learned the ABCs, how to tie her shoes, and how to laugh at her own errors with Bill as her instructor. She began a seven-year rehabilitation journey with the help of family and friends, restoring motor functions and allowing her to walk, speak, and regain most of the day-to-day capability that the stroke had taken away so rapidly. Jackie's optimistic attitude on life remained constant throughout the voyage. She established objectives for herself and achieved them all. She acquired a great empathy for people in similar situations and began to consider how she might share her success strategies. Today: Jackie debunks the popular belief that Miss Americas lead blissful, storybook lives. She is now 90 percent healed, and she is working hard every day to get to 100 percent. Jackie is an annual motivational and inspiring speaker for companies, educational institutions, and social groups. She works well with healthcare organizations, where she may talk as a keynote speaker at breakfast, lunch, dinner, or big events, then meet with patients one-on-one. She quickly interacts with patients, families, and healthcare professionals due to her elegance, patience, and engaging life narrative. Jackie has received many honorary doctorate degrees in public service, Honoris Causa, from Lourdes College and Chatfield College, as well as the National Stroke Association's Award of Hope and Courage, the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame, and the Madonna Foundation's Crystal Angel Award. Jackie has been on a variety of local and national television and radio shows, including Good Morning America, Evening Magazine, Lifetime Television, and Dr. Robert Schuller's Hour of Power. She has been a national stroke spokesperson for the American Heart Association and the National Stroke Association and has been featured in national newspapers and magazines such as Family Circle, People Magazine, and USA Today, as well as on the covers of Guideposts, Caregiver, and Stroke Smart Magazine. Jackie has authored several magazine pieces and is the inspiration for Kate Kitchen's book, The Strength of Grace.

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