Criscilla Anderson's Colon Cancer Journey

Criscilla Anderson, a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders choreographer, passed away at age 45 in December 2025, after a long battle with cancer. The choreographer featured in a Netflix reality television series "Country Ever After" with her then husband, Coffey Anderson in 2020. The show centered around their daily lives with their three children.

She was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer seven years ago, in 2018. At stage 4, the cancer is advanced, and already spread to distant organs or tissues, making treatment more challenging. Generally, the 5-year survival rate for stage 4 colorectal cancer is around 15% to 20%.

According to news reports, she went into remission in 2021 after having received treatment. However, the cancer still returned in late 2022.

In November 2025, one of her friends shared with Criscilla’s followers on Instagram that Criscilla was facing lung metastasis, a tumor in her throat and numbness in her legs. She put up a strong fight, and underwent at least 6 clinical trials during her cancer journey, making regular 4-hour drives to Houston for labs, scans, and treatment in her final weeks.

Facing something similar? Find more stories like Criscilla Anderson’s in our Colon Cancer Stories section, and discover when to go for colorectal cancer screening.

Criscilla had been open throughout her cancer journey, and chose to close this chapter by making her own personal statement.

“If you’re reading this, I’ve finally slipped into the arms of Jesus — peacefully and surrounded by love,” she posted in a final statement on her Instagram, with the help of her friend and photographer, Lindsey Villatoro. “Please don’t stay in the darkness of this moment. I fought hard and I loved deeply. I am not gone… I’m Home.”

Criscilla Anderson is survived by her three children, Ethan, 14, Emmarie, 12, and Everleigh, 9, as well as her former stepdaughter, Savannah, 17.

She left them a heart-warming final message on her post, “My babies… I am watching over you. When a moment feels warm, familiar, or too beautiful to be coincidence — that’s me. I’m still mothering you. I’m still yours,” ending with a final reminder: “And remember: heaven isn’t as far away as it feels.”

In 2022, Coffey Anderson filed for divorce from Criscilla Anderson. Although the couple was still in the midst of divorce proceedings, Coffey shared a tribute to Criscilla on his Instagram on December 2. “We miss you already. Our hearts are shattered. Our minds are jumbled. Our lives will never be the same.”

However, allegations and concerns about cheating have surfaced recently, due to a viral video by Cherry Nicole, who claimed to be one of Criscilla’s close friends.

While navigating the spotlight with three children, and a long seven-year battle with cancer, Criscilla ended her journey on her own terms, leaving behind loving messages for her family in her touching final post.