Black, 40, previous stillbirth. Mom’s death from sepsis led dad to push for personalized pregnancy care

Clayton Anderson said that despite a previous stillbirth, his late wife Krystal Anderson received the identical level of preventive care because the 23-year-old, who could be very healthy.

Former Kansas City Chiefs cheerleader Krystal “Krissy” Anderson and her husband Clayton Anderson felt they finally had one other likelihood to expand their family once they came upon last November that she was pregnant again. Her pregnancy with baby James resulted in stillbirth. But on the age of 40, Krystal became pregnant again.

Clayton said ABC news he saw their second likelihood at parenthood as a “little sign” from James. Although the couple believed he was sending them a hopeful message, they’d doubts. Krystal was black. She was older. She had lost a toddler before.

Only one in all these aspects was particularly dangerous, however the Andersons had to take care of the dreaded trio. Clayton told the ABC they asked for high-risk care from the beginning. But doctors told the couple they might have to wait until Krystal was three and a half months pregnant, he said, because “you can’t start a plan with maternal-fetal medicine or high-risk obstetricians until the 14th week.” “

“Every pregnancy is high risk, especially if you are a woman of color or older,” Clayton said, “and women should be treated as such from the beginning.”

Krystal died on March 20, four weeks before receiving the specialized care she and her husband wanted. Unfortunately, Krystal’s result is the same for many black mothers, who are at least three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications compared to white women. Charlotte Willow, the Andersons’ daughter, died four days before her mother. And like her, Charlotte has become another tragic data point that shows that black babies – even those born to wealthy mothers – die at higher rates than those born to poor white mothers.

The Black community knows well-known and affluent Black mothers who must fight alone for proper care during pregnancy and after childbirth. Tennis champion Serena Williams had to defend herself after several blood clots formed in her lungs following the 2017 birth by caesarean section of her first daughter, Alexis Olympia. Four years earlier, actress Kyla Pratt had an experience with a dismissive caregiver who initially ignored her concerns about contractions while she was giving birth to her second child.

Clayton Anderson is now speaking out against “one size suits all” prenatal care in honor of his late wife, who at the age of 40 advanced maternal age and are automatically at greater risk of pregnancy complications.

In December, a month after finding out she was pregnant, Krystal feared she might miscarry. She underwent cerclage surgery at 16 weeks to ensure her viability for the rest of her pregnancy. The next doctor’s visit was scheduled for week 20.

“Expecting someone who has suffered a loss to have 4 weeks between visits to their caregivers… It’s the identical protocol that is used for a 23-year-old who could be very healthy,” Clayton said. “It can’t be a one-size-fits-all solution.”

After complications in March, doctors planned to place his wife in a specialized hospital unit where she would be able to give birth successfully if she lived to 22 weeks. At her 20-week appointment, Clayton said doctors started prescribing her a semi-recumbent position for two weeks to help her get to that point.

On Saturday, March 16, still in her 20th week, Krystal began experiencing back pain, which her obstetrician suggested could be a sign of cramps and dehydration. Clayton stated that after conducting tests, doctors discovered amniotic fluid and ultimately stopped detecting the fetal heartbeat.

Krystal underwent surgery the next morning and was back on a ventilator and dialysis machine, experiencing kidney, liver and lung failure. She died within a few days.

The Mayonnaise clinic defines sepsis as “a serious condition in which the body responds inappropriately to an infection.” According to Centers for Disease Control and PreventionSepsis affects 1.7 million adults in the U.S. each year, causing nearly 270,000 deaths annually.

Medical Journal Healthcarepublished in the National Library of Medicine states that in black and Hispanic communities, the incidence and mortality from sepsis are higher than in the white population. While disparities are often blamed on systemic bias against minority groups, the journal noted that “a growing body of literature indicates that patient, community and hospital aspects are the reason for racial disparities.”

According to ABC News, AdventHealth Shawnee Mission declined to provide details about Krystal Anderson’s care due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), but the hospital sent its condolences to the family.

“Our hearts ache at this tragic situation,” they wrote in a statement, ABC reported. “Together with the independent providers who provide care at our facilities, we strive to provide each patient with the best possible care based on their specific needs and circumstances. Our prayers and support go out to family members and loved ones experiencing the devastating loss of a precious life.”

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