Honoring Zaki, Maggie, and Jason, as well as the power of compassion, science, and community.

Call us optimists. We like people. We believe in people. In every way, shape, and form. We believe in the full spectrum of humanity, and that every person helped can do the same for another.

Charlotte’s Web™ was founded to fight for a little girl named Charlotte. Then, 15,000 like her—with nature as our guide and science as our greatest tool. 

Since 2018, Charlotte’s Web™ has donated over $3 million for Realm of Caring (RoC)—a non-profit dedicated to cannabis research, education, and support. 

Today, Realm of Caring empowers families in 68 countries by providing education and access to CBD and cannabinoids.

What Is the Realm of Caring?

Realm of Caring is on a mission to transform lives through the power of cannabinoids. Founded to equip families with the tools they need to find relief, this nonprofit reveals what’s possible when compassion leads the way:

• 10+ years of relentless advocacy and innovation.
• Ground-breaking studies in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University
• A global reputation for focus on community, knowledge, and healing

Challenges deserve to be met with hope. RoC helps spread meaningful wellness to
those who need it most—these are some of their stories.

Zaki’s Story: Finding Hope in the Face of Struggle

One family who faced a desperate need for relief inspired the creation of Realm of Caring. By the time Zaki was five years old, he had endured hundreds of thousands of seizures. His parents, Heather and Frank, felt hopeless. 

Heather recalled, “Zaki started having seizures when he was only four months old. And by the time he was five, he had had hundreds of thousands of seizures. I thought that they would definitely be able to tell me why this was happening. I didn’t understand in the world of neurology; you just usually don’t know.”

Heather continued, “We got a lot of stares because he was always bruised up and banged up from his drop seizures and then on steroids with his weight.” 

Frank adds, “It was hard. One of the things I noticed, and I don’t even know if I should be saying this. He got stared at a lot because of how he looked—he was big—that kind of pissed me off.”

Heather explains, “We recently discovered that he has a rare genetic condition, CSNK2B, a gene mutation that causes severe developmental delay and uncontrollable seizures. He’s number 30 in the world. It was just a completely out-of-control situation. We had been through 17 pharmaceuticals, and Zaki had transitioned to being on hospice when he was nine years old. I definitely felt hopeless. You just feel like 100-pound sandbags on your shoulders. And it’s hard to move forward, feeling like that. It didn’t matter what we did; we just couldn’t stop it.”

On July 19, 2012, Zaki received his first dose of CBD oil from Charlotte’s Web™. With relief in his corner, Zaki’s personality flourished. His mother Heather proudly states, “Zaki loves being outside and building things.”

For Heather, this was about more than just Zaki. She felt compelled to help other families. “Realm of Caring was birthed out of sheer necessity,” she explains. “We had to get the word out to families that there was a potential option here.”

Heather’s determination and Zaki’s resilience set a path for so many families. And today, Zaki lives a radically improved life—facing his future with strength. Heather marveled, “Zaki has already changed the world. How many people can say that?”

Maggie’s Story: Forging a Future Deserved

Maggie’s seizures started at six weeks old—and despite six medications—she continued to suffer from her condition. Her mother Rachael and father Shawn didn’t know where to turn.

Rachael recalled, “Megan was born typical, and at six weeks, she started having seizures and totally rocked our world.” 

Rachael continued, “We had her on six different pharmaceuticals at one point, four different anticonvulsants, and then two to deal with the side effects of the other four, and she still was constantly seizing.”  Shawn added, “It was 5 to 600 [seizures] a day. I was thinking, I mean, this is probably it; she’s not going to have any quality of life.”

Even eating became a pitfall. Rachael explained, “She used to eat orally, up until a year and a half ago. So, she was probably six and a half, seven almost. And now we switched to an outer tube to get more nutrition in her because we couldn’t keep up.”

Desperate for answers, Rachael discovered a promising story about CBD. This discovery marked a turning point for the family:

“It was right before she turned a year old. I had seen one of the stories, and I know it was Heather and Zaki. I came out to Shawn, and I said, ‘Shawn, there’s something about this cannabis Sativa.’ We had decided that we were going to pack-up and leave East Tennessee and head for Colorado.” 

Shawn recalled just how pivotal that move was, “It was a big moment in our life. I think it was a big turning point because we could do something to save our daughter.”

At 17 months, Maggie received her first dose of cannabis through Realm of Caring. “Since we gave her that first dose, instantly we saw her digestive tract pick up. Within three months, she had a 30% reduction in her seizures, and now she probably had like a 90% reduction in her seizures,” Rachael shared. 

They later discovered her genetic condition, RARS2, Rachael explained, “Just a genetic mutation that she has, and she’s one in 50 out of the entire world.”

Her improvement is something the family cherishes. “Her quality of life has exploded drastically. She can enjoy her brothers. She has voluntary movement,” Rachael said. “We got out here in October of 2013. No doubt in my mind, by Christmas, she would have been gone. And we just celebrated her eighth birthday. I consider that a success.” Shawn agreed, “We’re seeing more and more of her revealed, which is just amazing.”

Rachael reflects, “I think we really take each day and see it as a treasure.” 

Maggie’s story spreads hope to this day—reminding families that wellness and relief aren’t just aspirations to fight for—they’re tangible realities.

Jason’s Story: Healing That Goes Beyond Physical Pain

Before his family could grasp what was happening, managing Jason’s condition became an overwhelming challenge. His mother, Kathy, shared, “Jason was just a typical little boy, running around, playing outside. And then one day, he started having seizures. It felt like our whole world fell apart.”

The seizures were relentless, Jason’s father, Mark, recalled, “We tried everything the doctors suggested. Medications, diets, therapies—you name it, we tried it. But nothing worked. He was having dozens of seizures every day. We were desperate.” 

Kathy added, “We got to the point where we were just trying to survive each day. Watching your child suffer like that, it’s unbearable.”

Their fight for Jason’s relief led them to Realm of Caring. Kathy remembered, “I read about another family who had tried CBD, and I thought, maybe this could help Jason too. We had nothing to lose at that point, so we decided to give it a shot.”

When Jason tried the full-spectrum hemp extract, the change was almost immediate. “Within a week, his seizures reduced by half,”  Mark shared. “It was like a light had turned on in our lives. A glimmer of hope we hadn’t felt in years.”

Jason’s progress changed the quality of life of the entire family. Kathy explained, “He wakes up with a smile now. He’s able to enjoy playing with his little sister. And for the first time, we’re able to breathe. It’s like we’ve gotten our boy back.”

Kathy reflected, “It’s still a daily battle, but now we have hope. We’ve seen what Jason is capable of, and that keeps us going. Realm of Caring didn’t just help Jason. They saved our family.”

Jason’s story serves as a potent reminder that perseverance opens the doors to extraordinary outcomes. Realm of Caring embraces the potential of uncharted paths, exploring innovative solutions for relief and wellness for those who need it most. Jason’s journey shows that with determination, anything is possible.

Realm of Caring Stands Out

For children like Zaki, Maggie, and Jason, innovation isn’t progress; it’s a lifeline.  Realm of Caring offers a culture centered on connections, community, and advocacy—driven by a core mission to redefine what’s possible.

Realm of Care remains a resource for families navigating cannabinoids. As Heather explained, “The plant was the catalyst, but it’s 100% about the community.”

With legislation passed in 22 states, RoC is breaking down barriers and ensuring more families can access life-changing solutions. 

Their work extends far beyond policy, however. Education, research, and personalized support create the foundation of a global network of hope connecting people like Zaki, Maggie, and Jason to life-changing resources. 

Partnering with leading researchers to study the effects of cannabinoids, Realm of Caring continues to provide access to evidence-based, natural solutions. That includes one-on-one guidance, reminding families they’re never alone in their wellness journey. Heather’s vision was always simple: create a world where no family has to face these challenges in isolation. Through RoC, that vision is becoming a reality—one family, one connection, and one success story at a time.

Together, We Can Make a Difference

Through Realm of Caring, children like Zaki, Maggie, and Jason found hope against impossible odds. RoC is changing more than lives; it’s changing the very landscape of wellness and redefining what’s possible. 

Here’s how you can help:

• Donate to support ongoing research and life-changing programs.
• Volunteer to lend your time and compassion to this growing movement.
• Learn more about RoC's work and impact by visiting Realm of Caring.

Every small act of kindness makes a ripple. Together, you can help families do more than survive—and truly thrive.

Charlotte’s Web™ proudly stands behind Realm of Caring and the push for natural wellness, reinforced by the power of science. With your help, families around the world can build a better tomorrow.

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