The husband of a former Kansas City Chiefs cheerleader who died last month from complications following a stillbirth has spoken out about his loss.
Krystal Anderson, 40, died of sepsis days after her daughter, Charlotte Willow, was just five months pregnant.
Just weeks later, Clayton Anderson recalled the emotion he and she felt when they first received news of the pregnancy, having already lost a child to stillbirth in 2022.
He remembered his late wife as his “world” – as well as his best friend and the love of his life.
He also criticized the American medical system for its alleged neglect of expectant mothers with a history of problematic pregnancies, especially black women of a certain age.
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Krystal Anderson, 40, died of sepsis days after her daughter, Charlotte Willow, was just five months pregnant. Weeks later, Clayton Anderson (right) recalled the emotion he and she felt when they received news of the pregnancy, after losing a child to stillbirth in 2022.
He remembered his late wife as his “world” – as well as his best friend and the love of his life. He also criticized the American medical system for its alleged neglect of expectant mothers with a history of problematic pregnancies, especially black women of a certain age.
Appearing on ABC News’ Good Morning America, he recalled how the couple saw the child as a sign that everything would be okay after their loss a few years ago.
“It was like our little sign from him: ‘Hey, Mom, Dad, I got you. Don’t worry about it,” he said, referring to the revelation that Krystal was pregnant again and the loss of their first child to stillbirth.
About his wife, he said as he choked up, “She was my world. She was my best friend and of course the love of my life and mother to our children.”
He then took aim at the state of medical practice in America, seemingly insinuating that his loved one’s death was preventable.
Sepsis is caused by the body’s failed attempt to respond to an infection, and affects maternal sepsis – the conditions that develop when the body’s response to an infection during pregnancy causes damage to its own tissues and organs black women, like Krystal, disproportionately.
He asserted during the sit-down via Zoom, “One of the problems I think I have with the system in general is that Krystal is 40, and she’s black, and we had suffered losses before,
“But even then, they say, you know, ‘you can’t start a plan until week 14 with maternal-fetal medicine or with the high-risk maternity physicians,’” he continued.
‘Every pregnancy carries a high risk.’
Appearing on ABC News’ Good Morning America, he recalled how the couple saw the child as a sign that everything would be okay after their loss a few years ago.
“Especially, more so, if you’re a woman of color, or if you’re older.
“They should be treated that way from the start.”
AdventHealth Shawnee, the hospital that cared for Krystal in late March, did not provide specific details about the care they provided, due to laws designed to protect privacy.
However, the hospital did release a statement Thursday when ABC News reached out for comment.
It reportedly read: “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 a past life.”
He further recalled how the couple rushed to the hospital on March 16 after Krystal felt unwell.
Doctors soon discovered the presence of amitotic flu and were unable to detect a fetal heartbeat that evening, confirming that Charlotte was dead.
After the couple mourned the loss of their daughter, Krystal suddenly developed a fever, and from then on things got dramatically worse.
He recalled how, after the couple mourned the loss of their second stillborn daughter, Krystal suddenly developed a fever, and from then on things got dramatically worse. She died days later, but her legacy, her husband said, lives on
He recalled what the doctors told him and her at the time: “They said, ‘We have to get Charlotte out of there, because you are [speaking to Krystal] not trending very well.
“And now it’s about saving you, Mom — not just Charlotte,” he further recalled, before recalling how he and his wife asked the doctors to hold their daughter one last time.
“And so we asked, ‘Is there any way you can try to get Charlotte out?’ This way we can hold her, because that means a lot, to hold your baby, even if it has been passed on.
“And they said, they’ll try,” he recalled.
Krystal then began to suffer complications from sepsis, which led to multi-organ failure. She died just days later.
As a final reminder, he added that the veteran cheerleader “wants everything to shine and sparkle, and she wants her smile to spread.”
“So while this is obviously terrible and tragic and, you know, I don’t think she wanted to be the person to defend these cases,” he continued, “if she was going to do it, she was going to do it.” it with joy.’
Her legacy, he said, lives on.
