Former Miss America Jackie Mayer visited 麻豆传媒听(PBA)听to inspire听and encourage students by sharing her听journey听from pageant winner听to stroke survivor,听and finally a patient听advocate.听The听seminar,听held on听Thursday, September 10,听2026听in the Titus Lecture听Hal濒,听was听presented听as a collaboration between听PBA听Lead听and听the听School of Nursing.听
From Shining to Shattered听
Mayer was crowned Miss America in 1963.听After听a short time听in acting, she married听John Townsend听in 1964. After getting married,听they moved to Pennsylvania,听started a horse farm,听and had听two children:听Billy and Kelly.听听
In 1970,听Mayer鈥檚听life took an unexpected turn.听She suffered a severe stroke听at age 28听that left her unable to听move or speak.听She was听devastated.听听
鈥淚 knew that I had to听get听better, but I just did not have the motivation to do听that,” she听recalled.听
Turning Broken to Beautiful听
A听few simple words听made听Mayer听get back up.听鈥淢om, you have a problem … you are just feeling awful sorry for yourself. Why听don鈥檛听you get off your butt and do something about it!鈥澨齋he听recalled that听these were the words听her son Billy told her.听
His words encouraged her to do听more听and听Mayer continued her recovery听at听Montefiore Hospital in Pittsburgh.听During this time in the hospital,听is when her minister reminded her that if she believes in God, 鈥渁ll things are possible.鈥�听Mayer says that these words became her guiding principle.听
After her recovery,听Mayer went on to听travel the country to听encourage听and听help听health听care workers, stroke survivors, and their families. She became听an听ambassador听for the American Heart Association and American Stroke听Association听and she听did not听simply听focus on stroke recovery and prevention, but听on preserving听the听dignity听of the survivors.听听
Advising听Future Generations听
Mayer听encouraged听future听nurses听to approach patients with patience,听kindness,听and empathy. She听implored听them to empathize and听consider what it feels like to depend on another person for basic needs.听
Throughout the presentation, Mayer听repeatedly circled back听to the themes of hope,听service,听and perseverance. She encouraged students entering health听care to remember that patients and their families听are听likely听filled听with听fear,听frustration,听and uncertainty听and that it is their responsibility to show them empathy and grace.听
鈥淲hen you are a doctor, or a nurse, or an aide, or anyone connected to the hospital,鈥� she said, 鈥渂e gentle, love one another, believe in God 鈥� because all things are possible.鈥�听
