A former Chiefs cheerleader has tragically passed away aged 40.
Krystal 'Krissy' Anderson, a former cheerleader for the popular NFL team Kansas City Chiefs, has died in hospital following the stillbirth of her child.
In what has been described as an "unexpected turn" after a "brave battle with sepsis", the 40-year-old's family announced that Krissy had been "called back to heaven."
"Her strength and resilience were evident as she faced unimaginable challenges," read the description on a GoFundMe page dedicated to the entertainer's family. "Krissy sought out hospitalization during her 21st week of pregnancy, and despite the trauma of losing her baby girl, Charlotte, during childbirth, she fought on."
"Her fight with sepsis, led to organ failure, and she was placed on life support," the post continued. "Krissy 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 rest of the message urged people to donate if they could so that Krissy's husband, Clayton could pay the medical expenses needed to cover her operations as well as continue to support their family while they grieve the loss of a mom, wife, and daughter.
So far, over $71,000 has been raised and the numbers continue to increase as time goes on.
The official Chiefs cheerleading team also confirmed the tragic news, sending their condolences to Krissy's loved ones via a heartfelt tribute on Instagram.
"We are deeply saddened by the recent passing of CC alum Krystal," the post read. "Krissy cheered with us for over 100 games from 2006-2011 and 2013-2016. 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 post continued, stating that Krissy was "loved and adored by her teammates, fans, and strangers..." before adding: "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," the post concluded.
Speaking to Fox 4 Kansas City, Clayton opened up about the loss of his wife, stating that he feels "lost."
"I feel lost," he told the news channel. "There’s a lot of people in this house and it feels empty."
Our thoughts are with Krissy's family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.
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