We recently connected with Jenny Cihak and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jenny, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
At the age of 24, I received a diagnosis for a rare neurological autoimmune disease known as myasthenia gravis, which affects only 37 out of 100,000 individuals.
What I once considered to be “healthy” quickly transformed into a struggle when my face became paralyzed. Within weeks, I began slurring my speech and choking on food, as if my throat was constricting. A short time later, I found it impossible to lift my arm long enough to brush my teeth, and getting out of my car became a challenge. My body felt like a wet noodle, devoid of any muscle strength to push, pull, or hold anything.
I was five years into my career as a hairstylist—a profession that requires functional arms. I have always believed in the power of mind over matter, but one day at the salon, despite my mind urging my arms to cooperate, I could not physically hold up my hairdryer to dry my client’s hair. Overwhelmed with frustration, I went to the front desk in tears, unsure of what to do next.
After numerous doctor appointments, I finally received my diagnosis. I was frequently in and out of medical facilities, undergoing countless tests including MRIs, CAT scans, EMGs, electric shocks, plasmapheresis, and blood work. The doctors warned me that if I experienced myasthenic crisis and stopped breathing, they would need to perform surgery from my neck down to my stomach. Since I was only 24, they preferred to avoid such a visible scar and opted for a less conspicuous one. I had a 50% chance of going into remission through a thymectomy. By that point, I was fatigued and frustrated, having gained significant weight from the steroids I was prescribed. Trusting my doctors, I decided to proceed with the surgery. They made an incision beneath my breast, sawed my breastbone in half, removed my thymus, and then surgically wired me back together. The operation lasted seven to eight hours, followed by a day in ICU and an additional six days in the hospital.
While in my hospital bed, unable to shower, I spent my time braiding my extensions and curling my eyelashes every day. I figured that even if I didn’t feel my best, I would at least look good! As I sat there with my braided hair and curled lashes, I repeated to myself about 959 times a day that I would go into remission and everything would be okay! I firmly believe in the power of a positive mindset. Today, I am proud to say that I have been in remission for almost 18 years.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
When I became pregnant with my daughter four years ago, I became increasingly aware of the foods I was consuming, understanding that they would directly impact her health. As I delved deeper into learning about food, ingredients, and chemicals, I grew more frustrated with our food systems. They seemed designed not for health, but rather the opposite—fried foods and processed options were everywhere, alongside junk and high sugar content in baby formulas. This reality was deeply disturbing to me.
Having worked in the beauty industry for over 20 years, I began scrutinizing the ingredients in my child’s diaper creams, lotions, and sunscreens. I was shocked to discover that products marketed as safe for children contained hormone disruptors and carcinogens. I felt incredibly frustrated. As a busy new mom trying hard to provide a better life and health for my child, I found myself deciphering complex, unpronounceable terms while companies claimed their products were safe when they clearly were not. That was unacceptable!
I started seeking out cleaner brands, only to find that many still included one or two toxic chemicals, and those that were truly clean often came with steep price tags. I thought, “We can do better.” This inspired me to create my own hydrating face and body cream, free from toxic chemicals and made only with clean ingredients. I wanted my line to be fully transparent, even sharing the recipes on my website along with my lip balm.
After developing my products, I continued to witness those around me suffering from autoimmune diseases, cancer, infertility, and various health issues. My heart urged me to learn more, leading me to return to school to become a functional medicine nutrition practitioner, someone who addresses the root causes of symptoms. Through this journey, I realized that I had developed an autoimmune disease at 24, fueled by my love for processed foods and sweets—consuming my entire Halloween candy haul in one day was common for me. Not once did any of my doctors inquire about my eating habits or lifestyle.
Now, I coach women on how to reverse their autoimmune diseases with gut healing, educate them on proper nutrition tailored to their bodies and conditions, and raise awareness about healthy snacks for children. It’s alarming that 50% of American children have a chronic illness, and this is unacceptable. Much of this can be prevented through proper nutrition. My goal is to help women and their children live longer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives by focusing on nutrition, stress management, sleep recovery, exercise, and mindset.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
One of the traits that has been invaluable to me throughout my life is being fearless. It reminds me of Mel Robbins’ 5-4-3-2-1 rule: just go for it! You take action without overthinking, without attempting to solve every problem, and without waiting for perfection. You simply begin! This approach has empowered me to build businesses, adapt more easily to change, accept when things don’t go as planned, and become proficient in various skills. By starting, adjusting along the way, learning more, putting myself out there, and boldly pushing through my fears, I’ve been able to achieve my goals.
Empathy is a vital quality that has guided me throughout my life. I only discovered it during my own medical journey at the age of 24. This newfound understanding has enabled me to feel compassion for others enduring tough times. It has encouraged me to engage in deeper conversations and foster better connections with people. Additionally, it has taught me to listen more and speak less, allowing me to trust my intuition and make clearer decisions.
As a new mom, my perseverance to find answers regarding products—whether food or beauty—was truly tested. I felt frustrated by the difficulty in uncovering information about toxic ingredients and was annoyed by companies misrepresenting their safety. My relentless pursuit for clarity ignited a passion within me, leading to the realization that I needed to completely shift my career to focus on this issue. It’s essential for more people to understand what they are putting into their bodies and applying to their skin.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
The most significant influence my mother had on me was her unwavering support, allowing me to be 1,000% myself. Now that I’m older, it truly tugs at my heartstrings to see friends struggle with their confidence or feel the need to behave differently around their parents. My mom always fostered a safe and welcoming environment where I could flourish and embrace my true self without any judgment.
This foundation has been invaluable in my adult life, empowering me to confidently engage in conversations with strangers and show up as my authentic self, free from concerns about others’ opinions. My mother gifted me the confidence to pursue anything I desired and to be whoever I wanted to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jennyreh.com
- Instagram: Jennyreh_
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/jewelsbyjennyreh
- Linkedin: Jenny Ciahk
Image Credits
IG: simplykatelynphotography Katelyn Cloud
