You Are Loved exists because tampon related Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is killing young women.
In June, 2010, a 20 year old college student became ill with what was at first assumed to be the flu. This student, Amy Elifritz, died a few days later because she developed TSS while menstruating and using tampons.
Amy’s mother, Lisa, founded You ARE Loved, a non-profit organization devoted to raising awareness about tampon related Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS).
The #1 reason teens and young women prefer tampons is so no one will see, smell, or know.
You ARE Loved seeks to raise awareness about tampon related TSS by
- reaching out with Amy’s story
- sharing TSS symptoms
- offering support
- providing a place for survivors to share their TSS experiences with others
- informing women of safer options
- answering questions about TSS
It’s not enough to know about TSS. We must be able to talk about it. Tampon users must be comfortable enough to say: “Hey, I’m on my period and I’m using tampons and I think I might have TSS – I need help!” And, we all must be willing to initiate period talk, if only to raise awareness about TSS.
Would you or your daughter
- be able to recognize the symptoms of TSS?
- know what to do?
- be open to learning about safer menstrual options?
- share that you are using tampons with anyone? (Did you know that with TSS you can become deathly ill and if no one knows about the tampon inside you…you might die from TSS?)
TSS kills. That’s a fact.
Join us for #PeriodTalk on December 14 at 2:00 pm ET and help us raise awareness.
Never forget – You ARE Loved.
by Suzan Hutchinson
Director of Connectivity for You ARE Loved