Kansas City Chiefs cheerleader Krystal Anderson dies after giving birth

Krystal “Krissy” Anderson, who used to be a cheerleader for the Kansas City Chiefs and taught yoga, has passed away at the age of 40. The Chiefs Cheer Instagram account confirmed her death and expressed condolences while honoring Anderson. An obituary mentioned that Anderson passed away unexpectedly on March 20. This happened shortly after the birth of her daughter, Charlotte Willow Anderson, who was stillborn.

“We are very sad about the recent death of Krystal, who was a former student at CC.” Krissy cheered with us for more than 100 games between 2006 and 2011, and again from 2013 to 2016,” the statement began. “During that time, she went to the Pro Bowl in 2015 as the representative for the Chiefs. She was also a captain for her team, cheered during the London game, and visited troops in various places like Iraq, Kuwait, and different parts of the United States.”

The Chiefs Cheer statement mentioned that Anderson was loved and adored by her teammates, fans, and even people she didn’t know for very long.

“After she finished being a cheerleader, she kept sharing her love for dance and Chiefs Cheer by helping out as an alumni on game day, during practices, and at events,” the statement said. “We will miss her gentle nature, happy enthusiasm, and her radiance.” We are thinking of her family and loved ones and sending our prayers. We will always remember and appreciate the time we spent with her. In the future, we will explain how we plan to continue honoring her memory.

Also Read: Survey Finds these Indiana Cities Requiring Extra Vigilance in 2024

Avia Hunt, who is married to Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt, left a comment on the post. She wrote, “It is a great loss for our team, organization, and anyone who has ever met her.” We love and miss you, Krissy. Please give Lamar and Norma a hug from us.

According to her obituary, Anderson was a software engineer who made important contributions to improving healthcare. She was even awarded a patent for developing software that assesses the risk of post-partum hemorrhage.

She is survived by her husband, Clayton Anderson. They got married in July 2021. Her parents are Bertha and Burnette Johnson. She also has a brother named Corey Johnson, as well as several other family members. The obituary also mentions that her infant son, James Charles, passed away before her.

During an interview with Kansas City Fox affiliate WDAF, Clayton Anderson shared that his wife developed a fever after their daughter was stillborn. According to him, she fought against sepsis, which caused her organs to stop working and required her to undergo three surgeries. “I feel lost,” Clayton Anderson said. “There are many people in this house, but it still feels empty.”

Sepsis is a condition where the body reacts inappropriately to an infection, which can cause the organs to function poorly, as explained by Mayo Clinic. Sepsis can develop into septic shock, which causes a drop in blood pressure and can damage vital organs, potentially leading to death.

Maternal mortality rates among Black women have been consistently high in the United States for a long time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, black women are almost three times more likely to die during childbirth compared to white women.

In February, Dr. Jessica Shepherd, an OB-GYN at Sanctum Med + Wellness in Dallas, stated that in order to lower the Black maternal mortality rate, there must be a significant change in the basic structure of healthcare systems. That means having insurance that covers medical expenses and being able to access resources and hospitals in areas that don’t have many food options and are disadvantaged.

Furthermore, Dr. Chavone Momon-Nelson, an OB-GYN, mentioned that research indicates that individuals who receive medical care from doctors who share their racial or ethnic background tend to have better results.

“Around 5-6% of all physicians are Black.” She said that only 2% of all physicians are black females. “If there are only 2-5% of doctors who look like you, the chances of being cared for by a Black doctor are very low.”