Lauren Wasser is a Californian model who lost her right leg in 2012 for the most unusual reason I’ve ever heard.
Most of us can’t imagine how a hygiene product could lead to a nightmare and change your life forever.
Now Lauren is determined that no other woman should have to go through the same thing she’s gone through, and is sending out a warning about the dangers of an everyday product.
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Lauren Wasser is a Californian model who went to the hospital in 2012 with flu symptoms. It turned out that she was not suffering with the flu, but menstrual toxic shock syndrome (mTSS) caused by bacterial toxins.
The cause of the infection? A tampon. The use of tampons, especially if left for many hours, can cause an infection that causes what is known as menstrual toxic shock syndrome (mTSS)
The mTTS left Lauren in a coma for more than a week, and upon awakening they had to amputate a leg because of the infection. She was 24 years old.
Nobody else should go through this
Lauren also took on a difficult legal fight against Kotex Natural Balance—the tampon brand linked to her life-threatening reaction.
“I had been using the same brand I always had, following the directions just like every woman does,” she told Harper’s Bazaar. “But that day, the toxins overwhelmed my body. I spiked a 42-degree Celsius fever, my kidneys and other organs began to fail, and I suffered two heart attacks. Doctors gave me a one-percent chance of survival.”
In an essay for InStyle, she underscored the urgent need for awareness: “The vagina is the most absorbent part of a woman’s body and a direct pathway to many vital organs. It’s crucial that consumers understand the real risks.”
Tragically, seven years after her initial diagnosis with menstrual toxic shock syndrome (mTSS), Lauren was forced to undergo the amputation of her other leg.
“My world changed in an instant,” she recalls. “I couldn’t even stand up, let alone return to modeling. I lost my sense of identity and purpose. In my darkest moments, I thought about ending my life.”
Found a greater purpose
What ultimately saved Lauren from ending her life was the thought of her little brother. He was always the first one home from school, and the idea of him being the one to find her was unbearable. That single thought became her anchor—and it kept her going. Slowly, she began to shift her mindset, choosing to view her pain not as a permanent defeat, but as a challenge she could overcome.
It wasn’t until later that Lauren uncovered a devastating truth: menstrual toxic shock syndrome (mTSS) had been silently claiming the lives of women for decades. That realization ignited something in her. She knew she had to speak out—not just for herself, but for the countless others who had suffered in silence.
Lauren found her purpose in being a voice for those women—those who lost their health, their futures, and even their lives. “I should still have my legs,” she says. “No woman should have to risk her life just by using a tampon.”
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Over time, Lauren Wasser learned to accept and even embrace her new reality. It didn’t happen overnight—it was a slow, step-by-step process. Inspired by A$AP Rocky’s grills, she had her prosthetic legs cast in gold, seeing them not just as tools but as a form of art. “Why not wear gold jewelry all the time?” she reasoned. Today, she lives fully and unapologetically—running five miles a day, hiking with her dog, doing Pilates, playing basketball, and even starring in a global lingerie campaign. “There’s nothing I can’t do,” she says. “Plus, I don’t need any pedicures.”
“Own who you are”
Wasser understands that forging your own path is rarely easy—but it’s worth it. She hopes others can find a part of themselves in her journey: an ordinary woman who faced extraordinary challenges and came out stronger on the other side.
Her message is powerful and simple—life will knock you down, but resilience can open the door to something greater. “Own who you are,” she says. “Step out that door with a smile, even on the hard days. When you take control of your life, you give others permission to do the same.”
While her faith in God has been her foundation, Wasser is also honest about the reality of emotional struggle. “It’s okay not to be okay,” she admits. “Society pushes this constant pressure to be happy, to look perfect. This January, let go of that. Care a little less about what others think.”
In a world consumed by curated images and online approval, she reminds us of one simple truth: you’re already enough.
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This brave girl has all of my respect. Keep fighting, with strength and optimism. Lauren continues to fight not only for herself, but for others, so that nobody else has to go through what she went through.
Please share Lauren’s story so that all women are aware of the potential dangers of tampons.
