Lauren Wasser’s story is one of unimaginable tragedy and incredible resilience. At the age of 24, Lauren was living an active, fulfilling life, modeling and playing basketball
However, in 2012, her life took a dramatic turn when she developed toxic shock syndrome (TSS) after using a tampon—a product millions of women use daily without incident.
Despite using the tampon correctly, changing it every four hours as recommended, Lauren’s life was forever altered by this rare but severe bacterial infection.
She was rushed to the hospital, where doctors fought to save her life. It was only after extensive testing that the cause of her illness was identified
toxic shock syndrome, a condition caused by the release of toxins from an overgrowth of Staphylococcus aureus (staph) bacteria, which can be associated with tampon use.
Waking up to this new reality was devastating for Lauren. She had lost both her legs, and with them, her sense of identity as an athlete and a model.
