Everyone is worthy

“You don't ever have to do anything sensational for people to love you.” —  Mr. Rogers

We have all faced challenging, life-changing moments — job losses, break-ups, or health scares, to name a few. And in those times, many have faced the difficult dilemma of whether or not to share this news with our friends and family. We anxiously wonder what others will think of us, worrying that our relationships, or even our own sense of identity, might change forever.

As the number of Americans diagnosed with chronic illnesses grows, more people than ever are faced not only with the dilemma of sharing the news about their condition, but also an even more fundamental question: Am I worthy of asking for and receiving help?  

For many who are diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, this can be an everyday challenge — from asking for dietary advice, to finding a live donor transplant. Often, patients have little or no guidance on how to overcome the stigma of chronic illness, and are left overwhelmed and alone, leading to a path of never-ending hopelessness.

It’s no surprise people facing kidney disease end up feeling like this; the entire kidney care system is designed in a way that limits their autonomy and ultimately drives them to what is essentially end-of-life care. Many patients feel as if medical professionals look down on them, and don’t believe they are worthy of making choices about their care. Often they are not even given the chance.

At Cricket Health, we believe it doesn’t have to be this way.

We have been reflecting on our company’s core values through our new Culture Code. Last week, our Chief Medical Officer Carmen Peralta wrote about the first pillar, We exist to help our patients live their best lives. Part of realizing your best life is knowing that you’re truly worthy of living that life. That’s why the second pillar of our culture code is: Everyone is worthy.

Right now, too many patients with kidney disease struggle to feel worthy of love, respect, kindness, and support.

Cricket’s approach focuses on reorienting kidney care away from in-center dialysis, which has a way of dehumanizing people. Instead, we aim to transform kidney care so the disease is detected earlier and patients are empowered by tailored education and support, so they choose the care plan and treatment path that is right for them. For many, that may be dialysis. For others, transplant and palliative care may be the right choice.

For this to work, we need to create an entire system of kidney care that prioritizes empathy, supporting patients, and treating people with kindness and respect, regardless of any choices they have made that may have contributed to their disease.

For many other diseases in this country, there are well-publicized rallies and campaigns of support from the general public. Even though kidney disease is incredibly common — one in seven people have it in the U.S. — kidney patients are often on a dark, lonely road.

With the season of giving upon us, here at Cricket we’re renewing our commitment to changing the system, empowering kidney patients to not only survive, but to seek love, kindness, and compassion from those around them.