How My Unsightly PICC Line Cover Inspired Me to Start My Own Company
Mighty Well™ was born of necessity…mine!
During my sophomore year of college, I was diagnosed with chronic neurological Lyme disease. When I had my first PICC line put in, I was told to protect it by wearing a cut-off sock, sleeve-like, on my arm. I’m sorry…what? A sock? On my arm? In public? Like…on dates? A sock?! And I wondered: how was this ever going to fit into the carefree, collegiate lifestyle I’d imagined for myself? How could I be me this way? What had I become? And how would I possibly flirt with that adorable hockey player in my 8 a.m. finance class?!
As soon as I had that sock on my arm, I saw the irony: intended to protect and conceal this critical piece of my treatment, instead it fixated on my illness and disregarded what was left of my wellness. It silently urged me to define myself as sick and tempted me to hide instead of getting out there and doing the things that made me feel like me, the things that make a life. Like flirting with that adorable hockey player!
In those days, PICC nurses had little else to offer, so I became obsessed with finding a solution that looked and felt fabulous and wouldn’t come between me and my lifestyle. Thus the PICCPerfect® PICC line protector was born — but we quickly realized we could improve so many more lives by creating additional products designed around the same set of values. So today, we are Mighty Well™ — a growing line of medical accessories that put strength, confidence and mobility back into the toolkit for spoonies and anyone else coping with a health setback.
It’s simple: our dreams and ambitions are just as big as they were before our diagnoses. And if we’re going to conquer the world we need uncompromising style and comfort — and the power to do treatments easily, discreetly and on the fly. Nothing powers physical healing like feeling like you, so get out there and do your thing. You are not a diagnosis — you’re Mighty Well™!
Here’s to your health,
Emily Levy
CEO and Co-founder, Professional Patient and all around Boss Lady
We want to hear your story. Become a Mighty contributor here.
Emily was undiagnosed with Lyme disease and co-infections for seven years, and only started treatment going into her sophomore year at Babson College. Emily is professional patient, CEO of Mighty Well (formerly PICCPerfect), and all around Boss Lady.
emily-levy