Yamile Jackson of Sugar Land invented the Zaky, a soft arm/hand-shaped glove that soothes infants with a nurturing touch of mom when she is not able to be present. Both the Zaky and the Kangaroo Zak are products that were inspired by her son, Zachary, who was born prematurely weighing less than two pounds and had to remain in the hospital for 155 nights. From left, Larry Jackson, Zachary Jackson, 8, and Yamile Jackson. Suzanne Rehak photo

Yamile Jackson faced the worst of any mother’s nightmare when her son, Zachary Jackson, was only 28 weeks when he was born in May 2001.

The small infant struggled to survive, and the arrival of Tropical Storm Allison only made things worse. Flooding and power outages affected Children’s Memorial Hospital that night at 3 a.m. The Jackson family wouldn’t see their son again until 7 a.m. the next morning.

Luckily, he had the constant care of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurses and doctors to help him. Jackson, who would visit her son daily, also made an effort to keep her and her husband’s presence with their son when they weren’t there.

The Zaky she created, a garden glove filled with small beads that Jackson had slept with, was kept near her son during his time in the incubator.

That experience led Jackson to found her company, Zakeez Inc., in 2004.

Blazing Star

Yamile Jackson of Sugar Land, invented the Zaky, a soft arm/hand-shaped glove that soothes infants with a nurturing touch of mom when she is not able to be present.On April 22, she was recognized by the Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Texas in Austin as a Blazing Star Award winner for her company’s growth and outreach to communities nationwide. This was its 12th award.

Sheila Harrison, host of the Houston Business Guide CEO Show, nominated Jackson for the Blazing Star Award.

They first met when Jackson appeared on the show two years ago.

"She’s a very genuine person that has a passion for what she does. I’m not surprised at all that she won because it’s such a unique product and won all kinds of awards. I admire her," said Harrison.

Jackson began research to develop the product in 2001. After three years, she created the Zaky, a bonding, therapeutic and positioning pillow which is formed as a hand and forearm. It is anti-allergenic, anti-pilling, anti-fungal, washable and easily warmed.

Jackson has expanded her product line to include the Kangaroo Zak and clothing designed for infant bereavement, which are available at www.zakeez.com.

The Zaky is used in the NICU of Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, in the Texas Medical Center in Houston and in more than 300 hospitals globally.

More than 3,000 Zakys have been donated to sick infants from Jackson’s "On Behalf of Zachary Program."

Julie Harelson, former marketing director at Texas Children’s Hospital, said she was "intrigued" by Jackson’s product.

Babies in the NICU are kept for long durations and have thrived on the touch and smell of their parents Harelson said.

"She created something that has the scent and touch, but also helps to position the infant. That is what amazed me about it. This is when they’re most likely to grow, prosper and heal. It does so much for so many," Harelson said.

Jackson, a Bogota, Colombia native, never set out to be an inventor.

She was raised by her mother, Linda Wagoner, who has a doctorate in history, with her two older siblings. Her father died when she was 7.

College education was important to Jackson.

She received a bachelor’s degree in 1991, a master’s degree in 1994 and a doctorate in 2000 all in engineering from the University of Houston. She graduated from Clemson University, Clemson, S.C., in 1999 with a master’s degree in engineering.

Jackson used her expertise to become an adjunct professor of management at Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences in Austria for three years while she worked abroad from 1991-98 with the engineering firms of Kvaerner and Fluor.

In 1998, she founded Ringstones Consulting International, a project management consultant and training company that served clients in the United States, Europe and Latin America.

Her professional work expanded to the research arena with the Construction Industry Institute and as a member of the board of directors with the Project Management Institute.

Jackson used her experience to fine-tune the Zaky design and research the product thoroughly before officially launching it in 2004.

Four vital elements

The main focus was on the four vital elements to a preemie infant, which are breathing, warmth, nutrition and protection, said Jackson.

She was contacted by the NICU at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital five months after Zachary left to inquire about her infamous garden glove.

"They told me it had worked so well that they wanted more. The heart beat was better and the signs of stress decreased. It could help any size baby or child with a medical condition," Jackson said.

During the month of May, Jackson annually donates more than $5,000 worth of products and Vein Lite Machines to hospitals to commemorate Zachary’s birthday.

She is also in the process of partnering with a U.S. Air Force Base so soldiers can sleep with a Zaky and return it home so their infants can become acquainted with their smell.

"I wanted to help families, but we’ve been able to reach hospitals worldwide. I made it for preemies, but never imagined it had other uses and applications. It blows my mind," Jackson said.

In her free time, Jackson enjoys spending time with her husband, Larry Jackson, vice president of Global Searching and Supplies at Fluor; golfing, photography, traveling and building Legos with Zachary.

YAMILE JACKSON

AGE: 42

OCCUPATION: Founder of Zakeez Inc., a company that designs products for assisting children and infants

QUICK QUOTE: "The success has blown my mind. I wanted to help a couple of families. We’re able to reach hospitals worldwide. It was made for preemies, but it has so many applications that I never imagined."