Former Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleader Dies of Sepsis After Stillbirth

Krystal “Krissy” Anderson, 40, died after undergoing three surgeries following the stillbirth of her daughter, Charlotte

On March 20, Krystal "Krissy" Anderson, a former cheerleader for the Kansas City Chiefs, died of sepsis following the stillbirth of her daughter, Charlotte Willow, at 21 weeks. She was 40.

According to a GoFundMe set up in her honor, Krissy's “fight with sepsis led to organ failure, and she was placed on life support." She then "underwent three surgeries, but the source of infection remained elusive."

"In the early hours of March 20, surrounded by her devoted family, sweet Krissy passed away," the tribute continued. "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."

Krissy's husband, Clayton William Anderson, spoke with local outlet Fox4 about his loss. "I feel lost,” he said. “There’s a lot of people in this house and it feels empty.”

Per the Mayo Clinic, sepsis is “a serious condition in which the body responds improperly to an infection." Sepsis can lead to septic shock and death. In a typical year, at least 1.7 million adults in the U.S. develop sepsis, and nearly 270,000 die from the infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

After cheering for the Chiefs from 2006-2011 and 2013-2016, Anderson worked as a yoga instructor and software engineer, according to her obituary.

Related: Man Recovers After Rare Bacteria Caused Septic Shock, Left Him with 'No Brain Activity': 'We Never Lost Hope'

While working as an engineer at Oracle Health, Anderson was awarded a patent for developing software that assesses the risk of postpartum hemorrhage.

"Krystal radiated joy and laughter to everyone she encountered," the obituary reads. "She was passionate about philanthropy, working with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of KC, Gabriella's Little Library, and the First Hand Foundation. She fiercely advocated for Black women in STEM and women's health."

Related: Texas Teacher Loses Arms and Legs After Sepsis 'Mummified' Her Limbs

Krissy was preceded in death by her daughter, and her first child James Charles, who also died in infancy.

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Kansas City Chiefs cheerleaders honored Anderson's memory on Instagram, writing, “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.”

“We will miss her kind spirit, joyful energy, and her sparkle. 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 ❤️💛”

Tavia Hunt, the wife of Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, commented, writing, "A profound loss for our team, organization, and anyone who ever crossed her path.💔 We love & miss you Krissy."

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