Lisa Kolavennu, CEO of Wellness House, joins Whitney Reynolds on IHeart Radio

At Wellness House, hope is not a distant promise. It is something you feel the moment you walk through the door. For Johnny, navigating life with cancer in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, that moment came when he least expected it and exactly when he needed it most.  

“When I first heard about Wellness House, I didn’t take the time to really look through the materials,” Johnny admits. “I thought, ‘I’ve got too much going on to be going to some program.’” But the nurses at his hospital kept mentioning it, particularly one young woman who wouldn’t give up on him.

Jackie’s journey with cancer began in 2021 with a diagnosis that shook her world—but not her spirit. “At first, I was shocked. But something in me said, ‘You have to do this. Be strong,’” she recalls. From her home on the South Side of Chicago, Jackie faced each stage of her breast cancer treatment with a quiet determination, fueled by her faith, her family, and the love of her husband, Todd—and their 12-year-old rescue dog, Bella. 

Throughout the history of Wellness House, a few extraordinary leaders have left a lasting imprint on the organization’s growth and direction. Jim McMahon is one of those individuals—an inspiring leader whose vision, dedication, and steady hand helped Wellness House flourish during its formative years.