Fierce Woman Lisa Elifritz with her dog
Today marks the launch of Maxim’s month long celebration of the upcoming National Women’s Health Week. Therefore, we have selected Lisa Elifritz, as our Fierce Woman of the month. Lisa won over our hearts with her story and ambition in spearheading the launch of her non-profit, You ARE Loved, which addresses an important women’s health issue: Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS).
Lisa reached out to Maxim Hygiene to get a conversation going about TSS after the very untimely loss of her daughter Amy, 20 to the disease. Amy, who was a graphic design student at Ivy Tech, was who Lisa remembers, “A pistol who always told it like it was, but more importantly, she had a heart of gold.” After her death, Lisa wanted to be sure that no other women suffer a similar fate. Therefore, Lisa has been working on starting a non-profit to educate women about the dangers of TSS and help bring light to a subject that is far too overlooked
As a feminine hygiene company, we feel it is very important that this subject is addressed and that all women are well informed about Tampon Safety. Lisa’s story particularly struck a chord with us at Maxim Hygiene because, like us, she is very focused on educating women. Tampons should not be feared, but women need to be made aware of this very serious and potentially fatal illness that is linked to tampon usage. Maxim Hygiene supports Lisa taking the adequate steps to give this issue attention.
Please take the time to learn about her story and how to support her cause starting with the interview with Lisa below. Lisa wanted to make it very clear that she “hates asking for things!” but we know our Green Queens are always open to lending a hand – especially when it’s such an important issue.
Lisa, who is also a Master Gardener (we love it!), is the perfect example of a Fierce Woman. Read below and I’m sure you’ll agree.
What made you decide to develop your non-profit?
After the death of my daughter to TSS, I was in total disbelief. My daughter, Amy, was a hygiene freak! If this could happen to her while knowing about TSS from the pamphlet inside of the box, and making it a point to try and prevent it, it could happen to anyone. People had to know! I couldn’t let this happen to my daughter and keep it to myself. I wondered how many people I could tell in a day. How many people could I tell in a week/month/year? The numbers weren’t enough; it needed to be told nationally and beyond. I started researching and finding information that didn’t add up. This is when I decided to contact people that could tell me how to proceed to protect our youth in an organized way that could reach millions. I developed You ARE Loved, the ARE represents my daughter, Amy Rae Elifritz.
What do you wish to achieve through the development of You ARE Loved?
I developed You ARE Loved to educate girls across America of early warning symptoms and prevention of Toxic Shock Syndrome. I hope to create a scholarship in Amy’s name for an outstanding Graphic Design Student at her school, Ivy Tech.
What steps have you taken to share the story of your daughter and teach people about the dangers of TSS?
I have been speaking at schools and using social media as a platform to share Amy’s story to raise awareness of TSS. I have badgered the press and news networks until I’m blue in the face to get them to print or air our story. (It’s working, by the way) I tell everyone I see that looks like they could have teen daughters or grandchildren. I’m sure they think I’m crazy by now!
What has been the biggest struggle or obstacle you’ve faced?
My biggest struggle is juggling Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, debilitating grief over the loss of my little girl, and my passion to get natural products on every store shelf that carries rayon filled tampons.
What has been your greatest triumph?
My greatest triumph has been my first letter from a mom who said our words saved her daughter’s life from TSS. Late night phone calls from mothers with daughters having symptoms of TSS, wondering what to do. It makes every moment worth working towards awareness.
Maxim Hygiene defines a Fierce Woman as “a glorious female creature whose idea of beauty is hinged upon the idea that she can change the world with each choice, each moment, and each breath of her life.” Who in your life would you describe as a fierce woman and why?
I think Oprah Winfrey is an incredibly fierce woman. She has come from the poorest of poor and worked hard to overcome. She uses her efforts to educate the world of so many issues that would never be spoken about. Oprah uses her fame and fortune to help the needy and disadvantaged children in the world. She is a hero to me.
What is the most important message you wish to convey to our readers?
As a mother, I wish to tell daughters of women everywhere, that you can protect yourselves from TSS. 100% cotton tampons are safe! Please choose these instead of rayon tampons. If you do choose to use tampons containing rayon, please never, ever, wear them at night. Use a pad for at least 8 hours per day. Eight hours is the magic number for those TSS toxins to dissipate. If you ever have a fever of 102 or above and flu symptoms while using a tampon, REMOVE IT! Seek medical attention right away. This isn’t the TSS of the 1980’s anymore. This is the TSS of TODAY! It’s back and making itself known. We can stop it in its tracks with a little bit of effort!
We would love to encourage our readers to help and support you in any way that they can, how can they get involved?
It costs money to run a non-profit of the size needed to educate across the entire country! We need donations! One dollar, five dollars, 1000 dollars, anything will help. Right now I’m still printing my pamphlets for the kids on my home computer. Please visit our new website; www.you-are-loved.org for information on how to donate. If you are a member of the press please contact me. I’d love to tell you more of our story. If you or a loved one have ever had TSS, email me your story and contact information. If you wish to be part of our educational team anywhere in the US, we need help there too! The reporter for WISH-TV news, CBS affiliate out of Indianapolis has a daughter that asked if she could open a lemonade stand to donate for Amy. That was so special to me. Lastly, because my daughter’s fate was sealed by a tampon we still have astronomical funeral expenses that have yet to be paid. All of our extra money has been going towards getting You ARE Loved going so that no other parent has to go through our nightmare, that we haven’t been able to put a dent in the funeral bill. I so hate asking for help for anything, so this is all new to me. Our organization can only continue through the help of our readers. I have a special thank you for Maxim Hygiene for helping make You ARE Loved possible.
Amy Elifritz, 10/16/89 – 6/13/10
If you’d like to donate to the cause or get involved in Lisa’s mission, please contact Lisa directly at lisa@you-are-loved.org
For more information please visit this link. Also, be sure to follow You ARE Loved on Twitter and Like them on Facebook for up-to-date facts and information.
This post is part of an ongoing series of posts dedicated to Maxim’s support of fierce women. A fierce woman is a “glorious female creature whose idea of beauty is hinged upon the idea that she can change the world with each choice, each moment, and each breath of her life.” To learn more about “What it means to be a fierce woman,” click here. If you know of any fierce women you want us to feature on our blog, please email us with their story at info@maximhy.com