Our Origin Story
Our Story
The Peculiar Purple Possum was born out of heartbreak — and a refusal to accept that nothing could be done.
It started when a friend took in an entire litter of pinkie opossums. They were tiny, fragile, and desperately needed to be fed. But their mouths were so small that standard feeding equipment simply didn't work. My friend was struggling, and I wanted to help. I couldn't believe there was no solution out there. So I started looking — and what I found was devastating: almost no one could feed them. The babies passed one by one.
That loss stayed with me. Someone needed to find a solution. I decided that someone would be me.
Built from a Bed, for a Friend
Because I am bedridden, I had to get creative. I found equipment I could use lying down — tools that could magnify the tiny details I was working with. Then I started ordering tubing, parts, pieces, and medical-grade adhesives. Tubes in every material, every size, every stiffness I could find.
Some were too hard. Some were too soft. Some were too small inside, some were too short. And nearly every last one was too large.
It was painstaking, methodical work — but I kept going, because I knew what was at stake. Eventually, through trial and persistence, the right combination came together. I made those first tubes for one reason: to help my friend. That was all I wanted to do. I wasn't trying to start a business. My full-time job is managing my health issues.
Word Spread
But my friend told people. And those other rehabbers wanted tubes too.
What happened next was something I didn't expect: each of those wonderful women gave me vital feedback. They told me what was working, what wasn't, and what the pinkies seemed to need. Together, we kept improving. And eventually — those same rehabbers began saving pinkie opossums using the tubes.
People just kept asking. So I put together my little handmade tubes and tried to help as best I could. They weren't perfect, but they did seem to help. And as the tubes got better, something else was happening too: the rehabbing community was learning. They were discovering that pinkie opossums aren't like other orphaned babies. They need a very different formula, a different approach to hydration, and specific care for their skin and habitat to continue developing outside the pouch.
For the first time, enough pinkies were living long enough for caregivers to figure all of this out. It was honestly incredible watching hope grow.
From Kitchen Table to Certified Manufacturer
I never set out to build a business — but people kept asking, and I couldn't say no. When my health made it impossible to keep handcrafting tubes, my husband stepped in to help own and operate things, and a dear rehabber friend offered to join us, handling shipping, social media, and the day-to-day work of keeping everything running.
Finding an ISO/FDA-certified manufacturing partner was the breakthrough that changed everything. It was the only way to make quality tubes available to rehabbers everywhere, at scale — and we are so proud of what we've been able to offer today because of it.
Our Mission
We’re here to help wildlife caregivers of all kinds—whether you’re a licensed rehabber working from home, a wildlife rehabilitation center in your community, or a veterinary office—get the feeding tubes they need without breaking the bank. We’re dedicated to keeping these tubes available at reasonable prices, because we understand that when you need one, you need it right away.
The wildlife care community has shown us incredible support since the very beginning, and we are honored to give something back. No more babies lost because the right tool didn't exist.
Get in Touch
The best way to reach us is through the chat on our website. Our team is run by a full-time wildlife rehabilitator, which means she is often elbow-deep in animal care — but she will get to you as soon as she can through chat.
You can also follow us on Facebook for updates, stories, and community connection:
Thank you for being part of this journey. Every tube sold means another little life given a fighting chance. 🐾