Donor Honors Wife’s Memory and Optimism When Jackson O. Wilson thinks of his first wife, Nancy, he remembers she was always smiling, even through her two-and-a-half decade battle with multiple sclerosis (MS). “She never complained once,” Jackson recalls. “She was diagnosed with MS in her mid-30s. It progressed to the point that she pretty much couldn’t do anything. But she never complained. She always smiled, which made it a lot easier for me as her caregiver.” When MS claimed Nancy’s life in 2005, Jackson decided to honor her memory and unfailing optimism by supporting The Maxine Mesinger Multiple Sclerosis Clinic at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). He asked that in lieu of sending flowers, people celebrate Nancy’s life by donating to the clinic where Victor Rivera, M.D., treated her for more than 15 years. Jackson matched all donations and even made a gift in excess of the amount. Through the years, Jackson’s commitment to BCM has grown. He makes regular gifts to the College on Nancy’s birthday and at Christmas time. He will also bequeath 50% of his and Nancy’s combined IRA account to the Maxine Mesinger MS Clinic.  Jackson remarried in November of 2007 and he and his wife, Marion, are active and enthusiastic members of the BCM community. They joined The Partnership for Baylor College of Medicine and attended the “Noche Caliente” gala in January. The Wilsons hope their support of multiple sclerosis research and care at BCM will help develop treatments for the disease and bring us one step closer to a cure.
I took a tour of the College’s MS research clinic and saw the high quality of care the clinic provides,” Jackson said. “I want my little contribution to help out in that area."
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