Grieving husband of Kansas City cheerleader who died from sepsis after stillbirth says he's 'lost' after her death - as GoFundMe for family raises $70k

The husband of a former Kansas City Chiefs cheerleader said he is 'lost' without her after her sudden death from sepsis, days after she gave birth to her stillborn daughter.  

Krystal Anderson, 40, was 21 weeks pregnant when doctors couldn't detect her daughter's heartbeat. Doctors delivered her child, Charlotte, who was stillborn on March 20. 

'I feel lost,' her grieving husband Clayton told Fox4 through tears. 'There's a lot of people in this house, and it feels empty.' 

Tributes have poured in for the former cheerleader and women's health advocate after her death, as she was remembered by loved ones for her 'radiant smile that could light up the darkest room.' 

Krystal Anderson, 40, is seen during her cheer days. Tributes poured in for the beloved wife and friend, as she was remembered by loved ones for her 'radiant smile that could light up the darkest room' 

Anderson's grieving husband Clayton said through tears that he feels 'lost' without her, adding: 'There's a lot of people in this house, and it feels empty' 

She is survived by her husband Clayton Anderson, who she was married to for two years. The couple previously experienced another stillbirth before the recent tragedy 

It was revealed that on the same day as the stillbirth, Anderson spiked a fever and became septic before going into organ failure. 

She was put on life support and underwent three surgeries, but ultimately passed from the complications, according to her obituary.

As tributes poured in for Anderson, her friend Shanna Adamic, a wellness advocate, described her as 'absolute magic in every sense of the word.'

'She brought it on the field. She brought it to her friendships, she brought it to our tours we had around the world,' she told Fox4. 

'She was an absolute force for good. She made every room just light up. It was joyful love,' Clayton added. 

Chiefs cheerleaders said on X that the organization was 'deeply saddened' by her passing. She cheered for the team for over 100 games from 2006 to 2011, and again from 2013 to 2016.  

'During that time, she attended the Pro Bowl as the Chiefs representative in 2015, served as a captain of her team, cheered during the London game, and visited our troops around the world, including in Iraq, Kuwait, and throughout the United States,' the team added. 

'She was loved and adored by her teammates, fans, and strangers who were never strangers for long. 

'After her time as a cheerleader, she continued to share her love of dance and Chiefs Cheer by serving in an alumni role on gameday, practices, and at events.'

The Chiefs are planning to honor Anderson in a future game. 

Anderson (pictured with her husband) spiked a fever and became septic before going into organ failure

Anderson was a yoga instructor as well as a community activist, and was known for her advocacy for women in STEM research. A friend described her as 'absolute magic in every sense of the word' 

'We will miss her kind spirit, joyful energy, and her sparkle,' the post read. 

'Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones. We will cherish every moment we had with her. At a later date, we will share how we will continue to honor her legacy.'

She is survived by her husband, who she was married to for two years, and the couple had previously experienced a stillbirth before she got pregnant with Charlotte. 

Their baby boy James was born at rest, his ashes saved inside of a teddy bear that Clayton clutched in his interview.

A GoFundMe has been made in her honor, and has raised more than $70,000 as of Tuesday morning.

The description of the GoFundMe reads: 'Krissy was more than a wife, mother, daughter or friend; she was magic personified. 

'Her radiant smile could light up the darkest room, and her sassy responses never failed to bring laughter and joy. 

'She loved with her whole heart, leaving an imprint on everyone fortunate enough to know her.'

The couple previously suffered a childbirth years ago. After their baby boy James was born at rest, his ashes saved inside of a teddy bear that Clayton clutched in his interview 

Anderson worked as a software engineer at Oracle Health, where she was awarded a patent for developing software that assesses the risk of post-partum hemorrhage

Former Kansas City Chiefs cheerleader Krystal Anderson has died suddenly from complication with sepsis days after giving birth to her stillborn daughter

Anderson (pictured). Doctor delivered her daughter, Charlotte, who was born at rest on March 20

Maternal mortality in the United States have more than doubled over the past 20 years, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association last year. Black mothers reportedly had the greatest death rate.

Dr. Marc Parrish, the Maternal Fetal Medicine Division Director at the University of Kansas Health System, said this is a well-known statistic in the medical community.

'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.' 

'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,' Clayton said.

Shanna Adamic, a former Chiefs cheerleader who cheered with Krystal, said her friend of 18 years 'was absolute magic in every sense of the word.'

'She brought it on the field. She brought it to her friendships, she brought it to our tours we had around the world,' Adamic said.

A proud advocate for women in STEM, Anderson worked as a software engineer at Oracle Health, where she was awarded a patent for developing software that assesses the risk of post-partum hemorrhage.  

She was put on life support and underwent three surgeries, but ultimately passed from the complications, according to her obituary

Krystal and her husband experienced a stillborn before they got pregnant with Charlotte; their baby boy James was born at rest, his ashes saved inside of a teddy bear

Her obituary said Anderson donated much of her time to the community, helping with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Kansas City, Gabriella's Little Library and the First Hand Foundation.

'She fiercely advocated for Black women in STEM and women's health,' the obituary said. 

'In her spare time, she enjoyed dancing, laughing with her sisters, practicing and teaching yoga, dinners with exotic and spicy food, and spending couch time with her husband and their two dogs, Sprocket and Louie.'

 Services for Anderson are being held this week.