LEAWOOD, Kan. — A Kansas City-area family is grieving after the loss of both a newborn child and a mother. Friends say she was a staple on the Chiefs cheerleading team.
Krystal Anderson was only 40 years old when she died.
Beyond taking the field as a Chiefs cheerleader for 10 seasons at Arrowhead, she had other passions. Family members tell FOX4 she pushed for Black women in STEM and women’s health.
Shanna Adamic misses her friend of 18 years.
She was absolute magic in every sense of the word,” Adamic said. “She brought it on the field. She brought it to her friendships, she brought it to our tours we had around the world.”
They said Anderson was 21 weeks pregnant when doctors couldn’t find a heartbeat.
Krissy’s Husband, Clayton, said their daughter, Charlotte, was born at rest.
The next day, Krissy spiked a fever. He said Anderson’s battle with sepsis led to organ failure. Days later, despite three surgeries, she passed away.
I feel lost,” her husband Clayton Anderson said. “There’s a lot of people in this house and it feels empty.”
A study published last year in the “Journal of the American Medical Association” says maternal deaths in the U.S. have more than doubled over two decades. It said Black mothers died at the highest rate.
“It’s very well known that Black mothers in the United States die at a higher rate than their white counter part,” Dr. Marc Parrish said, “and if you look at the specific rate it’s almost three times almost three times of white moms.”
He’s the Maternal Fetal Medicine Division Director at the University of Kansas Health System.
“Definitely over the last two decades,” Parrish said. “We’ve even seen it as in short of a period of, just an annual basis, we’ve seen slow rises every year.”
“It’s, you know we say, the best country in the world, right? Not if you’re a Black pregnant woman, it’s not and that needs to change,” Anderson said.
Krysta’s husband said she was passionate about women’s health and Black women in STEM. She was a yoga instructor and a software engineer.
Adamic said Anderson got a patent for assessing the risk of post-partum hemorrhage.
“She was an absolute force for good. She made every room just light up,” Anderson said.
He said she touched this community with her kind spirit. She Cheered on the Chiefs for more than 100 games over 10 seasons.
“She was kindness, she was sass, she was joy, and I think that she really imprinted on our hearts,” Adamic said, “and not just our, but those in the community.”
Clayton said his wife of two years had a smile that could light up any room.
He holds a stuffed animal for little Charlotte and her brother, James. His ashes are inside. Clayton and Krissy experienced a stillbirth before they got pregnant with Charlotte. He held them tight – missing his family, remembering his love.
“It was a joyful love,” Clayton said.
Services for Anderson are being held this week. A GoFundMe page has been created to help the family.