My name is Shannon Toner, and my journey began in 2008 when, at just 15 years old, I nearly lost my life to Menstrual Toxic Shock Syndrome (mTSS). After using a Playtex Sport tampon, I fell into a coma and spent three harrowing days in the ICU fighting for my life. While the doctors saved me, they sent me home with little guidance on what to expect during recovery or how long my symptoms would last. 

The mental side effects fluctuated, but the debilitating period pain remained constant and overwhelming. I was prescribed pain killers and at one point put on birth control, neither of which helped completely. These treatments only masked the root problem while I continued to suffer. For years, I attributed these ongoing physical and emotional challenges to being aftereffects of mTSS, because I had no other framework to understand what was happening to my body. I simply assumed this was what I had to live with since no one told me otherwise. I felt isolated by the common misconception that "this doesn't happen anymore," and I developed unhealthy coping mechanisms to push away the traumatic memories. The societal silence around menstrual health only deepened my confusion and loneliness.

The turning point came in my late twenties when my symptoms reached their peak. I was experiencing such terrible mood swings and pain that I only felt “normal” a few days a month. I was desperate for answers and surprisingly found solace in Reddit—an online chat forum—of all places. It’s a profound realization: after struggling for more than a decade, I ultimately found answers not through the traditional channels I’d repeatedly turned to, but through the shared experiences of anonymous strangers on Reddit. 

I discovered hundreds of women describing experiences identical to mine. Their stories described the exact symptoms I'd been experiencing for years—the cyclical emotional turbulence, the debilitating physical pain. I learned there were medical terms that described this constellation of symptoms—labeled PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder) and endometriosis. More important than the terminology, I found validation that my experiences were real and shared by others, which helped me advocate more effectively for my own care.

This community-sourced research led me to a revelation: it wasn't just the mTSS aftermath—I was dealing with menstrual health conditions that countless others faced, conditions that proper education could have helped me identify and address years earlier. Armed with this new understanding, I scheduled an endometriosis consultation, as I was seriously considering a hysterectomy at that point. While waiting for my appointment, I began researching natural solutions and started working with a homeopath and a menstrual coach-someone who teaches you how to work with your cycle rather than against it. The improvements I saw from this initial approach convinced me to continue pursuing this holistic path, and based on my personal progress, I ultimately decided to cancel the consult, remaining open to reconsidering conventional treatment if needed.

The knowledge I gained transformed my life. I went from crying on the bathroom floor during my period to confidently surfing on my first day(yes, like surfing in the ocean). I learned to fuel my body properly and interpret the messages it was sending me. Most importantly, I realized that comprehensive menstrual education could have spared me over a decade of unnecessary suffering.

This realization inspired the creation of Protect Her Inc. While my mTSS experience highlighted the dangers of inadequate menstrual product safety information, my subsequent journey revealed an even broader gap: the profound lack of comprehensive menstrual health education. I'm now dedicated to ensuring that no young person feels as alone and uninformed as I once did.

I envision a future where periods are discussed openly and comfortably in society. A world where adolescents receive thorough menstrual education before they even begin their periods—not just covering biological basics, but providing practical knowledge that improves their daily lives, builds confidence, and enhances health literacy. I dream of a world where we address menstrual health proactively through education rather than reacting to crises after years of preventable suffering simply because someone didn't know to speak up and ask for help.

My journey from near-death, through years of unnecessary pain, to finally finding answers and healing embodies why comprehensive menstrual education isn't just beneficial—it's essential. Knowledge truly is power, and it's the foundation of the educational mission that drives everything we do at Protect Her Inc.