Model Lauren Wasser Loses Leg, Survives Toxic Shock Syndrome: Sues Kotex Tampons Company

A 27-year-old model was put in a horrifying position when she was 24. Three-years ago after nearly dying and losing her leg, Lauren Wasser is suing the famous tampon company Kotex after Kotex Natural Balance tampons crippled her life with Toxic Shock Syndrome. Today, Wasser says the Kroger and Ralph's brand were "negligently, wantonly, recklessly, tortuously and unlawfully responsible" when she was hospitalized for the horror that befell her life. Wasser also says that even though she followed the label's direction, the TSS kicked in.

Before losing her leg, Wasser went to a friend's birthday party at the Darkroom on Melrose and was told by everyone that she looked sick. She went home immediately and fell into bed. The next morning she woke up with her blind cocker spaniel on her chest barking aggressively, not knowing whether it was day or not. There was also cop at her door because her mom had called in a welfare check.

When she fed her dog and the police left, she called her mom, went to sleep and then ended up in a hospital bed. Unbeknownst to her she was rushed to a hospital with a 107 degree fever and was ten minutes from her death. Her internal organs were shutting down and gangrene started to set in on her leg.

Wasser was rushed to UCLA for hyperbaric oxygen therapy to get oxygen flowing in her legs but it was too late. The leg had to be removed. While there she overheard a doctor saying they're going to remove her right leg and realized they were talking about her.

"I thought, Oh my God, she's talking about me," Lauren told Vice. "I'm going to lose my leg."

Wasser's lawyer, Hunter J. Shkolnik, says the tampon boxers are required to print warning labels but these labels weren't clear enough. The box says: "Change your tampon every four to eight hours, including overnight", and they say overnight could mean more – especially for teenagers who sleep in on the weekend. Her lawyer and family argue you shouldn't sleep with your pad in.

Wasser says it took her a long time to come to grips with her new life.

"I would cry on a little stool in the shower, with my wheelchair outside waiting for me," she told Vice. "It f*cks with you. You live your whole life and think, 'I'm an athlete,' or, 'I'm a pretty girl,' but this was something physical that I had no control over. It took me a while to figure out if I was still worthy, if I was still pretty."

A photo posted by Camraface + (@fotofetish) on Jun 17, 2015 at 9:21pm PDT