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 toxic shock syndrome 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 toxic shock syndrome or TTS.

The TTS 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.

Since then, Lauren has had one single life goal: ensuring that no one else ever has to go through what she’s been through.

Nobody else should go through this
“In a few months, I’m inevitably going to have my other leg amputated. There’s nothing I can do about it. But what I can do is help make sure that this doesn’t happen to others,” Lauren tells The Daily Mail.

Lauren has launched a tough legal battle against Kotex Natural Balance, the brand of tampons that caused her to react so severely.

“Considering that the vagina is the most absorbent part of a woman’s body and is a gateway to many of our vital organs, it is crucial that consumers know the reality of what could happen to them,” Lauren writes in InStyle.

Unfortunately, Lauren recently had to have her other leg amputated.

As soon as she left the operating room, the model posted a photo on her social media accounts with Paralympic athlete Amy Purdy, who also had her legs amputated, and wrote the following message:

“Life is about to be so different, again! I’m in great spirits though and ready for my next chapter. ???‍♀️??‍♂️ // photo by my love @camraface“

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.