HOUSTON -- A Houston woman is trying to make life better for premature babies at a local hospital with an item she created for her own child.

The Zaky is named after Yamile Jackson's son, Zachary. It's a pillow that looks and feels like a human hand that provides extra support and soothes babies.

Jackson has a PhD in industrial engineering. But it was her role as a mother that led to the Zaky during the toughest time of her life.

Zachary was born three months early. Hooked up to monitors that watched his every breath, heart rate and vital signs, it was heartbreaking for Jackson.

"The pain that he felt. It was hard," she said.

Jackson and her husband, Larry, were by their son's side every day until Tropical Storm Allison hit.

"We woke up and didn't know it had rained all night," Yamile Jackson said.

Hospitals flooded, power was lost, and Zachary had to be evacuated. His lungs collapsed several times and he nearly died.

All Yamile Jackson could do was pray.

"I said (in prayer),' If you let me go home with Zachary, I'll help babies.' So that's what I'm doing," she said.

Through her pain, the Zaky was born.

Since the pillow mimics the look and feel of a human hand, it makes babies feel like someone is there.

"Not every child had a mother by his side for hours and hours," Yamile Jackson said.

At Memorial Hermann Children's Hospital, nurses were using pillows and blankets to support infants.

"It is far easier to position any baby with the help of the Zaky," said Dr. Fernando Moya, with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

Moya brought the Zaky in for a pilot program.

"Babies seem to enjoy very much the fact that we're proving boundaries for them. They're able to keep adequate position and it's a very soft touch," Moya said.

The Zaky can also be used on full-term babies for snuggling and keeping them on their side or backs.

As for the product's namesake, Zachary is now 3 years old -- healthy and happy, and the light of his parent's eyes.

"We're so thankful," Yamile Jackson said. "He was born to save me."

You can check out the Zaky this weekend at American's Baby Expo at Reliant Center. Call (866) 279-EXPO for more information.

Or you can order it online for $35 at www.zakeez.com.