Lauren Wasser<\/strong>, a rising model from California, was just\u00a024 years old<\/strong>\u00a0when her life changed forever. What started as a seemingly ordinary day in 2012 ended with a\u00a0medical emergency<\/strong>\u00a0no one could have predicted \u2014 and the root cause was something most women use every month: a\u00a0tampon<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Lauren had been experiencing flu-like symptoms and was rushed to the hospital. But it wasn\u2019t the flu. Doctors quickly diagnosed her with\u00a0menstrual toxic shock syndrome (mTSS)<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 a rare, life-threatening condition triggered by\u00a0bacterial toxins<\/strong>, most often linked to prolonged tampon use.<\/p>\n Lauren fell into a\u00a0coma for over a week<\/strong>. Her body temperature reached 42\u00b0C (107.6\u00b0F), her organs began shutting down, and she suffered two heart attacks. Doctors gave her a\u00a0one-percent chance<\/strong>\u00a0to live. While she survived, the infection caused by the toxins had already spread \u2014 and her right leg had to be\u00a0amputated<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d been using the same brand of tampons I always had, following the instructions. That day, the toxins took over my body and I nearly died,\u201d she told *Harper\u2019s Bazaar*.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The brand in question was\u00a0Kotex Natural Balance<\/strong>, and Lauren later launched a\u00a0legal battle<\/strong>\u00a0against the manufacturer.<\/p>\n
\nA One-Percent Chance of Survival<\/h2>\n