By Meredith Knight
Jennifer Wischnewsky’s life was turned upside down when her mother-in-law was diagnosed with kidney cancer. Little did she know it was only the beginning. “When Theresa was diagnosed, the doctors gave her five months to five years,” Jennifer said. “But they didn’t know this strong, Italian woman.” Theresa was ready to fight and Jennifer was prepared to do whatever she could to help. That included driving her to chemotherapy treatments.
“Right away her skin became dry and painful, and I was scrambling to find her some relief.” That’s when the family got more bad news. Jennifer’s sister-in-law, Stephanie, received her own cancer diagnosis. Hers was in the breast and the chemotherapy was just as cruel. By the second treatment, her hair fell out, her skin was miserable, and she lost her appetite. “I began meeting other patients, when I drove Stephanie and Theresa to treatment,” Jennifer said. “I found I had a gift for reaching out to them and bringing them some comfort.”
Through sheer force of will, Theresa lived another 20 years. Toward the end when she was in a lot of pain, the doctor recommended the family find some cannabis to make her more comfortable. “I’m a strong Christian who’s never even had a cigarette,” Jennifer said. “But I’d do anything for Theresa. We got some cannabis. She smoked it and was able to breathe and talk to us almost immediately. It lasted about four hours. She refused to smoke it a second time, but we’d seen the relief it brought.”
One year after Stephanie’s diagnosis, Jennifer’s own mother received a breast cancer diagnosis and Jennifer began caring for her. “I asked God, ‘What’s going on? Why are three people I love so much so sick? What am I supposed to do here?’” Jennifer said. “My mom said I’d done so much for so many people—had raised my three kids, had taken care of Theresa, Stephanie, and now her. It was time to care for myself.”
“I was 40 and all I’d ever done was raise kids,” she said. “I wasn’t sure what God wanted me to do next. But after watching my mom suffer through the changes chemotherapy made to her skin and after God opened my eyes to see how I was able to reach the patients at the oncology center, He began opening doors for me to work in oncology aesthetics.”
Jennifer obtained her aesthetics certification and got a job at Facelogic. She loved the work and was surprised how many people she saw suffering the effects of cancer treatment. “They’re suffering with that awful, painful, dry skin and it’s such a blessing to be able to help them,” Jennifer said.
During her training, Jennifer heard a lot about CBD-enriched products for treating different skin conditions and so much else. CBD oil is an extract of the hemp plant—not marijuana. It contains none of the intoxicating ingredients and isn’t addictive. But the all-natural ingredients it does contain work to bring the body into balance by regulating neurons and synapses throughout the brain and body. “CBD-enriched products balance your body’s systems—naturally—and manage physical and emotional stress, pain, and many other conditions,” Jennifer said.
Now, with her own CBD Plus USA locations in Allen, McKinney, and Prosper, Jennifer is helping her customers find relief from everything from depression and anxietychronic pain, muscle recovery after surgery, fibromyalgia, diabetes, and neuropathy to—her passion—many types of skin conditions. “All our products are third-party tested and pesticide-free,” Jennifer said. “They’re fat-based which increases their absorption and effectiveness. We’re meeting people every day who are finding relief from conditions they’ve had for years.”
At each of her CBD Plus USA locations, Jennifer has highly trained employees who, like herself, live in the community. “There’s nothing more fulfilling for us than helping improve the quality of life for our friends and neighbors using a safe, legal, affordable substance that’s been around for millennia,” she said. “These products work with the body’s natural systems, not against them.”
It’s amazing for Jennifer to look back and see how God gently ordered her steps and placed her in a position to help so many. She’s happy to report her sister-in-law and mother are both doing great. And she can’t wait to see what new opportunities God has in store for them, for her, and for her customers at CBD Plus USA.
