Model Lauren Wasser from California lost her right leg in 2012 for the strangest reason that I’ve come across.
Few people think of how – without warning – a hygiene product could transform your life.
Now it is Lauren’s goal that other women will not go through what happened to her and she is sharing her story to alert the public about the risks of this ordinary product.
Lauren Wasser ended up in the hospital in 2012 because of flu-like symptoms, as she recounts. She was actually diagnosed with menstrual toxic shock syndrome (mTSS) instead of the flu, because of bacterial toxins.
What made the infection happen? A tampon. Tampons can give off chemicals for a long time and up to 30 hours, leading to an infection called menstrual toxic shock syndrome in some individuals
Lauren spent over a week in a coma after the mTTS and when she woke up they had to amputate her leg because of the infection. Her age was 24.
No one should experience the same difficulties.
She fought a hard legal fight against Kotex Natural Balance which caused her highly adverse reaction.
I’d been buying the same product of tampons and clearing up following the instructions given on its pack, just like other women my age. On that day, my body was overcome by the toxins and I almost passed away. The fever I experienced went up to 42 degrees and it caused my kidneys and organs to begin failing, plus I suffered two heart attacks. She said in Harper’s Bazaar that everyone believed she wouldn’t come back from what happened to her.
Lauren points out to InStyle that since the vagina absorbs easily and leads to important organs, we must understand the dangers associated with possible chemicals.
Regrettably, Lauren had to lose her other leg a few years after her first mTTS diagnosis.
A sudden change happens; as a result, I was unable to stand or model. I was unable to recognize who I was or know what I wanted in life. At my most challenging times, I even decided to end my life.
Discovered a higher meaning to my life.
The feeling that her little brother did not have anyone else if she died was the deciding factor that stopped Lauren from killing herself. He often got home first from school which terrified her because she feared he might find her. That one idea is what made her believe she could go on. As the days went on, she decided to view what happened to her as a struggle rather than a defeat.
Later, Lauren found out that mTSS had claimed the lives of many women for a long time. This discovery inspired her like nothing else. She decided to speak on behalf of herself as well as for all those who had gone through the same suffering quietly.
She dedicated herself to giving a voice to the women who had their lives, health or futures taken away from them. Lauren notes that she should not have lost her legs. Any woman should be able to use a tampon without danger to her life.
In time, Lauren Wasser got used to and appreciated her revised life. It wasn’t something that happened quickly. It happened little by little. After seeing A$AP Rocky’s gold grills, she got her prosthetic legs cast in gold and treated them as a piece of artwork instead of just as helpers. She thought: “I can wear gold jewelry every single day.” Currently, she leads a full life, exercising five miles every day, hiking with her pet, doing Pilates, playing basketball and featuring in a global lingerie campaign. “There’s nothing stopping me,” is what she believes. In addition, having pretty feet isn’t necessary for me.
Express your true identity.
Wasser understands that walking your independent route is rarely simple, but it is important. She wants others to relate to her story, knowing she just went through trauma and came out as a stronger person.
She shows us why resilience allows us to move forward and find many opportunities. As she explains, being yourself and putting on a smile each morning will help you be strong. If you take charge, you will help others feel stronger to stand up for themselves.
She thanks her faith in God for holding her strong and she admits that it’s normal to feel down. She says that society wants everyone to be happy all the time. This month, be a little more self-assured instead of worrying about others’ opinions. Since social media can make some feel insecure, she urges people to know that they don’t have to seek reassurance from anyone else.
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I really admire this courageous girl. Don’t give up, keep believing and being courageous. She doesn’t only fight for herself but for all those who may experience something similar.
Encourage others to hear Lauren’s story so that all women are aware of what tampons may cause.