KANSAS CITY, Kan. — On May 27, 2014, Ashley Anderson’s life changed forever, due to a death.
“Her name is Jade Marie,” said Anderson.
Ashley was 40 weeks pregnant and says the possibilities were endless.
"I was looking forward to the opportunity to become an amazing mom, and having a child that looked like me; that talked like me and mimicked me," said Anderson.
For Ashley and so many other expectant mothers in Wyandotte County, that never happens.
Wyandotte County has one of the highest infant mortality rates in Kansas. In 2015, there were nearly 40 deaths.
Even if you do everything right like Ashley did, Jennifer Allen with the Wyandotte County Health Department says you could still become a statistic.
"She got early prenatal care," said Allen. "She went to all the classes and that is the very, very devastating news of stillbirth; it is sometimes the case that we’ll never know the answers about why babies die."
Health leaders say it’s a problem that could impact anyone.
"Affecting all different income ranges," Allen told 41 Action News.
October 15 is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day. Wyandotte County Health leaders are hosting a vigil and balloon release October 12th at Huron Park in Downtown Kansas City, Kansas. It’ll be from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. The goals are to increase awareness and to raise concerns and funds for research.
