Over Thanksgiving weekend in 1985 Jackie went to Athens, Greece for a high school volleyball tournament with the team her husband coached. Jackie flew home alone and when her flight, EgyptAir Flight #648, was hi-jacked Jackie became the victim of terrorism. She had been shot in the head, thrown to the tarmac and she was left for dead. For the five hours she laid on the tarmac Jackie drifted in and out of consciousness. She was presumed dead until an airport grounds crew retrieved her body. The airport crew had been on its way to the morgue until they realized she was alive and quickly turned around and headed for the hospital. As a result of this head injury, Jackie continues to face challenges with emotional, physical, and learning disabilities. She has used her nine years expertise in special education to train and rehabilitate herself.

 Today, Jackie sees the world through new eyes. She is a motivating speaker with a story to tell that will keep any audience on the edge of their seats. Through her personal experience of facing change and adversity with endurance and perseverance, she has reached thousands with her message of looking beyond the obstacles that get in our way and focus on what really matters.  We can all become peak performers through our attitudes and reactions.  She reminds us that tragedy, suffering, and even everyday issues always contain the seeds of new growth and learning.  Each of us makes choices daily to be happy or sad, positive or negative.  Jackie encourages her audiences to develop strengths and coping skills to set a new direction in their lives, as they focus on their own personal and professional challenges. Mountains don't seem as tall as before, and trivialities in life lose their importance, leading the listener to focus on more important professional and personal issues.

 Jackie shares her riveting story and lessons learned from this horrific experience. In her book, Jackie shares her story and the lessons she learned during her recovery and rehabilitation. In her presentations, she relays the story of her captivity; then details the skills she had employed to survive and grow, and most importantly, how the audience can apply these methods to their own lives. She travels nationally to share her story to corporate groups and businesses, professional organizations, and community and student organizations on a full-time basis. She also speaks to school districts and colleges on motivational issues as well as educational issues pertinent to teachers and students. Jackie's strength and skills to lead a normal life have inspired thousands of people to set a new direction and focus on key aspects of living their lives to a full potential. The audience reaction is amazing. Emotions are surfaced, barriers fall, and the audience becomes open to change their own way in dealing with daily personal as well as professional challenges. Emotions are surfaced, barriers fall, and the audience becomes open to change their own way in dealing with daily personal, as well as, professional challenges.