Pinterest Benefits: Hannah Cronin shares her transformative family caregiver leave experience

Hey, I'm Hannah! I'm a Senior Manager in Employment Legal (International) at Pinterest, and I've been here over three and a half years, based in Dublin. I've got two kids, Darcey (8) and Clarke (5).

A Scary November 

In November 2023, my daughter Darcey got very sick and ended up in the hospital for a number of weeks. She was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes – it was a huge shock, and she was really close to being in intensive care. There was no history of the condition in our family. 

What's Type 1 Diabetes? 

It’s an autoimmune condition where the body's immune system mistakenly destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin - a hormone that acts like a "key" to help sugar from food enter cells for energy. Without insulin, sugar builds up in the blood instead of fueling the body's cells. This can damage the body’s vital organs without treatment. This condition typically develops in childhood and isn't caused by diet or lifestyle factors, nor is it preventable or contagious. It isn’t a condition that is curable right now, although there is intense research happening so we are hopeful. People with T1D need insulin shots (multiple times per day) or a pump for the rest of their life, plus careful monitoring of their blood sugar and carbs. However, with modern tech, determination, and a lot of support from school and home, they can totally live full lives! Know the signs to identify: Thirst, Tired, Thinner, Toilet!

Pinterest to the Rescue! 

Pinterest has this awesome Global Family Caregiver Leave Benefit. It lets you take up to 12 weeks of paid leave if a family member has a serious health issue. It is reflective of our company values of empathy and putting people first. Living with a family member with a serious health issue I can say first-hand that this policy is an absolute lifeline.

How it Helped Us: I took two blocks of leave.

First Block (Nov 2023): This was right after Darcey's diagnosis. My husband and I could stay with her in the hospital overnight, make her smile, learn how to give insulin injections, manage her blood sugar, deal with dangerous glucose lows, and get her back home and into school. I was so grateful to have a job that understood that I needed to be with my family.

Second Block (Nov 2024): We used this time to get Darcey set up with an insulin pump, which is basically an artificial pancreas attached to her body 24/7 with a cannula and tubing. We had to learn how to change the needle and manage insulin with this new system.

Resilience

Life throws difficult curveballs, but Pinterest really stepped up when we needed them most. This experience made our family stronger and more resilient, and we couldn't have set Darcey up for a healthy future without that Family Caregiving Leave. I am so grateful to work here and am indebted to my manager Amira Dallafior for her empathy and support.