Lauren Wasser, a model from California, faced an unimaginable tragedy in 2012 — she lost her right leg due to something most of us use without a second thought: a standard hygiene product.
What began as a normal day quickly spiraled into a life-altering nightmare. It’s hard to believe that a product meant for personal care could have such devastating consequences
Today, Lauren is not only surviving — she’s thriving and using her platform to raise awareness. She’s on a mission to ensure no one else has to suffer as she did. Her message is clear: it’s time to rethink the safety of the products we trust every day.
She Thought It Was the Flu — What Happened Next Changed Her Life Forever
In 2012, Lauren Wasser, a vibrant 24-year-old model from California, walked into a hospital with what she believed were flu symptoms. But what doctors discovered was far more dangerous — and far more shocking.
Lauren wasn’t fighting the flu. She was in the grip of menstrual toxic shock syndrome (mTSS) — a rare but life-threatening illness caused by bacterial toxins. The source? A tampon.
Like millions of women around the world, Lauren was simply using a product she trusted. But within hours, her body began shutting down. The infection sent her into a coma for over a week. When she woke up, her right leg had been amputated to save her life.
“I had a 42-degree fever, my kidneys and organs were failing, and I had two heart attacks,” she later shared. “I had a one-percent chance of survival.”
She Did Everything Right — and Still Paid the Price
Lauren had used the same brand — Kotex Natural Balance — for years, always following the instructions. But that day, everything changed.
Recognizing that her story wasn’t unique, Lauren launched a fierce legal battle and began using her voice to shine a light on the hidden dangers of a product so many women rely on.
“The vagina is the most absorbent part of a woman’s body — a direct gateway to vital organs,” Lauren wrote in InStyle. “Consumers deserve to know what can happen.”
The Nightmare Didn’t End There
Seven years after the initial diagnosis, Lauren was forced to undergo another amputation — this time of her left leg. The consequences of mTSS were still unfolding, and the emotional toll was crushing.
“I lost sight of who I was. I couldn’t even stand, let alone model,” she admitted. In her darkest moments, she considered giving up. But the thought of her younger brother coming home to find her was the thread she clung to — and it saved her.
Turning Pain Into Purpose
What could have destroyed her became her mission. After learning that mTSS had claimed the lives of countless women for decades, Lauren found her voice — and a renewed sense of purpose.
She is now a fierce advocate for transparency, education, and safer menstrual health options.
“I should still have my legs,” Lauren says. “No woman should have to risk her life just by using a tampon.”
From Tragedy to Triumph: How Lauren Wasser Turned Pain Into Power
Lauren Wasser’s journey didn’t end with loss — it evolved into something extraordinary. Learning to accept and eventually embrace her new body was no overnight transformation. It took time, pain, and an unwavering decision to rise. Step by step, she rebuilt her identity — not in spite of her trauma, but through it.
Inspired by A$AP Rocky’s iconic grills, Lauren made a bold statement: she had her prosthetic legs cast in gold. “Why not wear gold jewelry all the time?” she laughed. To her, they weren’t just prosthetics — they were art, power, and proof of resilience.
Today, Lauren lives without limits. She runs five miles a day, hikes with her dog, practices Pilates, plays basketball, and models in international lingerie campaigns. “There’s nothing I can’t do,” she says with a grin. “Plus, I don’t need any pedicures.”
“Own Who You Are”
Lauren’s story is about more than survival — it’s about ownership. She wants people to know that you don’t have to be famous or fearless to overcome. She was just a young woman who faced something horrific and chose to come out stronger.
“Life will hit you hard,” she says. “But it’s what you do next that defines you. Own who you are — even on the hard days. Walk out that door with a smile, even if you don’t feel like it. That strength? It’s contagious.”
She credits her faith in God for anchoring her through it all, but she’s also refreshingly honest about the reality of healing. “It’s okay not to be okay,” she says. “Society makes it feel like you have to be happy 24/7. You don’t. This January, care a little less about what people think. You’re already enough.”
In a world chasing likes and validation, Lauren is a bold reminder that the real glow-up is inner strength — and it’s something you can’t filter.
This Brave Woman Deserves All Our Respect
Lauren Wasser is more than a survivor — she’s a warrior. Her strength, courage, and relentless optimism are nothing short of inspiring. She’s not just fighting for herself anymore — she’s fighting for every woman, so that no one else has to endure the pain she did.
By sharing her story, Lauren is turning tragedy into purpose — and her voice is making a difference.
Let’s help her amplify it.
Please share Lauren’s story.
Let every woman, every mother, every daughter know: even everyday products like tampons carry risks that need to be understood. Awareness can save lives.
Lauren’s journey is proof that even in our darkest moments, we can find light — and become it for others.