Husband of Kansas City Chiefs star Krystal Anderson speaks out after her death

Clayton Anderson, the husband of longtime Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleader Krystal Anderson, who died after giving birth last month, is speaking out about his wife’s death.

In an interview with ABC News Posted on Thursday, Clayton Anderson discussed what it was like to mourn the loss of his wife, who was Black, and the importance of raising awareness about the Black maternal mortality crisis in the US.

Krystal Anderson died at the age of 40 from cardiac arrest caused by a whole-body infection known as sepsis on March 20 at a Kansas hospital after giving birth to a stillborn child, according to Clayton Anderson. The former Chiefs cheerleader previously suffered a stillbirth in 2022.

“She was my world, my best friend and of course the love of my life and mother to our children,” Clayton Anderson said of his late wife.

He also discussed racial disparities in maternal health outcomes and the way health care systems generally treat high-risk pregnancies.

“Krystal is 40, and she is black, and we had suffered losses before – but even then, [doctors] Say, you know, you can’t start a plan with maternal-fetal medications or the high-risk maternity medications until you get to week 14,” he told ABC News.

He later continued: “Every pregnancy carries a high risk… if you are a woman of color, or if you are older, and they should be treated that way from the start.”

“To expect someone who has suffered a loss to go four weeks between visits to their healthcare provider … that is the same protocol as for a 23-year-old who is very healthy,” he added, referring to his situation. woman. “It can’t be a one-size-fits-all” approach.

AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, where Krystal received care, released the following statement to JS: “Our hearts ache in this tragic situation. Together with the independent healthcare providers who provide care in our facilities, we strive to provide each patient with the best possible care based on their specific needs and circumstances.”

“We offer our prayers and support to family members and loved ones who are experiencing the devastating loss of precious lives,” the statement continued.

Clayton told ABC News that his late wife underwent a procedure when she was 16 weeks pregnant called cervical cerclage, which helps “keep the cervix closed during pregnancy to prevent premature birth.” according to the Cleveland Clinic. He said her next scheduled visit would be four weeks later.

But after Krystal developed complications at 20 weeks, doctors placed her on partial bed rest and made a plan to admit the former cheerleader to a specialized hospital unit for a so-called “periviable” birth at 22 weeks. But the couple reportedly rushed to the hospital during Krystal’s 20th week of pregnancy after she started experiencing back pain.

On March 16, a doctor determined that no heartbeat could be detected in the fetus. Krystal developed a fever a few hours later. The sepsis caused organ failure and she died despite undergoing three surgeries, Clayton told the outlet.

Last month, Clayton told Fox affiliate WDAF-TV in Kansas City that he felt “lost” after Krystal’s death.

“There are a lot of people in this house and it feels empty,” he said at the time.

In addition to cheerleading, Krystal worked as a software engineer, where she received a patent for her work “developing software that estimates the risk of postpartum hemorrhage.” according to her obituary.

Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white womenaccording to the CDC. The maternal mortality crisis affects Black parents at all levels of education, economics and healthcare, Dr. Tracey Sylvester, a gynecologist in California, told JS in August.

The official Instagram account for the Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders released a statement mourning the death of Krystal last month.

The group said Krystal had cheered on the organization for more than 100 games from 2006-2011 and 2013-2016.

“She was loved and adored by her teammates, fans and strangers who were never strangers for long,” the statement read, later adding: “We will miss her kind spirit, joyful energy and her sparkle.”