Lori Ann Jacobson's childhood was peppered with memories of taking care of her ailing mother. When she was 10, her mom was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and since Lori's father traveled for work, the caretaking responsibilities fell to Lori and her siblings. By the time she was in high school, Lori and her younger brother were the sole caregivers for their mom — but despite the challenges she faced, she was known for her joy, optimism and unbridled love for her family and friends.
Lori was devastated to witness her mother lose the abilities she once had — from being able to walk without dragging her leg to eventually requiring a walker, and later relying on a wheelchair. Lori's sister, Kay, remembers the toll her mother's illness took on their family: "Mom had been dealt a difficult hand in life and she was angry about it, which made our childhood difficult," says Kay. "We didn't have much support, and it would have helped us a lot to have someone that we could talk to who understood."
Despite her early challenges in life, Lori went on to build her own business and become a successful museum consultant. She never forgot the balancing act she had to live out as a child, caring for her mother. It became very important to her to make sure that other family members of people with MS — especially children — would have the resources and support she never had.
Before Lori passed away, she made the decision to leave a bequest in the form of a designated IRA to the National MS Society. She wisely directed that funds be allocated to provide programs and services to equip family members with the information, connections and support they need to assume the role of caregivers. She wanted to ensure that the children of parents living with MS could rely on the Society as a supportive partner throughout their caregiving journey and as a place to forge meaningful connections with other people affected by MS so that they never felt alone.
Lori's legacy gift is providing families the support, connections and resilience needed to care for their loved ones living with MS. Because of Lori's decision to leave a bequest to the National MS Society, more people affected by MS will have the support and resources they need to live better lives.
Creating a lasting legacy to change the world for people with MS is one critical way that generous donors like Lori, and you, make a big impact. Visit our website to learn more about planning for retirement and options for leaving a planned gift to the National MS Society, or contact giftplanning@nmss.org.