Strive Health Technology Team Member with Rare Condition and One Kidney Shares Her ‘Why I Strive’ Story

Christina Wildau joined Strive Health nearly three years ago as a Salesforce Administrator, supporting the tools clinicians and care teams rely on every day. Over the past year, Christina’s connection to kidney care became deeply personal. 

After a complicated pregnancy, an emergency C-section and an unexpected diagnosis, Christina learned that she herself was born with just one kidney. Now a new mom and person navigating the healthcare system, she brings a renewed perspective to her work at Strive, and a powerful reminder of why proactive, coordinated specialty care matters. 

Q: Tell us about your role as a Salesforce Administrator at Strive.
A: I support the technology that our clinicians, enrollment teams and operations teams use every day. A big part of my role is also assisting nurses and care teams in troubleshooting issues with scheduling, workflows or documentation. I also help maintain our care plan library and support enhancements behind the scenes. 

My work is very much about making sure care teams have the tools and information they need to support patients efficiently. 

Q: Why do you Strive?
A: Originally, my “why” was my grandmother. She had kidney failure and was on dialysis, and I used to drive her to treatments early in the morning. Seeing how draining that process was on her, both physically and emotionally, stayed with me.  

More recently, my reason became deeply personal. Immediately after giving birth to my daughter, Lily, I learned I was born with a rare condition and only one kidney. Now I’m a patient myself, with a nephrologist monitoring my health. That experience strengthened my connection to why Strive exists: helping people understand and protect their kidney health early, before problems become life-altering.

Q: What was it like navigating the healthcare system during your pregnancy and diagnosis?
A: It was intense, but I was incredibly fortunate to have a strong, supportive care team. My midwife followed me closely throughout my pregnancy and all the way through delivery. She was thoughtful, attentive and proactive about coordinating referrals when complications arose. 

That level of coordination made a huge difference.  

When you’re working with multiple specialists — OBs, maternal-fetal medicine, nephrology — having providers who communicate with each other helps you feel less alone and less overwhelmed. It really reinforced how critical coordinated care is during complex and emotionally heavy health situations.

Q: What did it feel like learning about your condition immediately after delivery?
A: It was shocking. During my C-section, my doctor discovered I have a unicornuate uterus and told my husband I needed to have my kidneys checked after delivery. Eight weeks postpartum, an MRI confirmed I was born without my left kidney. 

The hardest part wasn’t the diagnosis itself, though. It was the period between not knowing and knowing. That uncertainty, especially while recovering from childbirth, was emotionally heavy. But once I had answers, I felt an unexpected sense of empowerment. So many people experience pregnancy losses or complications without ever understanding why. Having clarity helped me process everything I’d been through.

Q: What lifestyle changes have you made since becoming a kidney patient?
A: Thanks to my care team, we identified medications that I should avoid, such as ibuprofen, as well as dietary adjustments, such as sticking to a low-sodium diet. I also don’t drink soda and keep alcohol very limited. My right kidney is healthy and compensating well, so the focus is on protecting it long-term.

Being proactive feels manageable and empowering, rather than overwhelming. It’s about making informed, realistic choices that support my health over time.

Q: How has this experience changed how you show up at Strive?
A: It’s given me a deeper appreciation for what our clinicians do every day. I’m more engaged with the clinical side of the work now, especially when maintaining care plans. I find myself reading kidney education content and thinking, “This truly matters to someone’s life.” 

Being both a Striver and someone who is managing my own health reinforced the importance of prevention. Even people who don’t think they’re at risk need education and support early. That’s where Strive makes a real difference. Helping people stay healthy before kidney disease becomes life-altering.

Q: What’s one thing you wish healthcare providers understood about living with health concerns day-to-day?
A: That patients need to feel empowered to ask questions and be supported when they do. It can be intimidating to push back or ask for additional testing, but it’s your body and your health. Learning to advocate for myself changed my experience entirely. 

I also hope providers remember how overwhelming fragmented care can feel. Clear communication and coordination across teams make an enormous difference, not just clinically, but emotionally.

Q: What do the words “Why I Strive” mean to you today?
A: They mean protecting kidney health — mine, my daughter’s and others’. They mean prevention, education and coordinated care that helps people avoid the hardest outcomes. And they mean working for a company and with a great team that supported me as a whole person, not just an employee, during one of the most challenging seasons of my life.

Each of us has a “why” for doing what we do. If helping to redefine care and elevate life aligns with your “why,” explore opportunities to join our team at StriveHealth.com/Careers.