Savor the Success - Business Network for women entrepreneurs

Merry Christmas!

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful holiday!

I am spending the holiday's working on WELLalarm's branding. In response to a bunch of feedback, we are going through all of our materials (website , written, and press kit) before we do our first big pr push in late January. One of the things I am spending a great deal of time on is the best way to tell my personal story as it is synonymous with WELLalarm. I am sure that this is a challenge many entrepernuers face...developing the personal brand.

As may Savor the Success members have contacted me since I started the blog asking to learn more about why I decided to start wellalarm today I will share that story with you.

Getting Sick Inspired Me to Launch a Business
Nobody wants to get sick as an inspiration to start a business, but when I developed a life-threatening nerve disorder called Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, it completely rocked my world and changed my life. I went from hitting the gym everyday to barely being able to walk over night.  At the worst of the illness I had little to no sensation in my hands and feet, as well as trouble with my autonomic nervous system (stomach, bladder, vision etc). One minute I was a healthy twenty-something, the next I was living with a rare, life-threatening chronic illness characterized by constant pain, requiring chemotherapy and life-long infusion treatments. To top it off, as if things could get much worse, less than three-weeks after I finished chemotherapy, my father suddenly passed away. Looking at my father's casket, having just survived the most acute portion of my own illness, when just months before I would have assumed our positions would be reversed, I realized that I had to create something positive from this experience and take back control of my life.

Why I Started WELLalarm
I was a 28-year-old healthcare executive on the fast track when I was first diagnosed. Shortly after I started treatment I had a very scary and life-threatening experience; I had a severe adverse reaction to my first round of treatment while at my office. Had I not been on the phone with my oncologist at the time the reaction occurred I most likely would have collapsed and died as no one knew the extent of my condition - let alone how to help me.  What a wake up call!

I realized that I needed something that would speak for me in case I couldn't. After much research, I came to the upsetting conclusion that there was no efficient way to communicate ones vital medical information in an emergency. Medical Alert bracelets were too primitive - and, for a stylish New Yorker, just too ugly - to convey all of the information a person might need in an emergency. Technology had grown exponentially since the medical alert bracelet was introduced and I knew there must be some way to harness that power to provide a person's vital medical information whenever and wherever it is needed.

Utilizing my background in healthcare and technology, with the encouragement of my friends, family, and former business associates, I founded WELLalarm.

What is WELLalarm?
WELLalarm is a next-generation emergency medical alert system that combines the power of technology with fashion to protect the lives of millions of people living with life threatening conditions. With WELLalarm's patent-pending technology first responders and healthcare professionals can now instantly access life-saving information¬ - such as blood type, medications and allergies - from a users WELLalarm account with an easy phone call or by visiting a mobile URL.  Our stylish WELL-ID products each contain a WELL-ID code, toll-free number and mobile URL. The line includes gold and silver jewelry, tags, clothing labels, and stickers. They are items that help people look good and feel protected.

Today, at age 32, I am now on the other side of the acute portion of my illness. Creating WELLalarm has served as a positive focus for my attention during the worst point in my life. I remain passionate about empowering people to take control of their health and wellness and giving them the peace of mind they deserve.  I am proud to say that WELLalarm has already saved lives and we look forward to saving many more.