Empowering Fathers as Maternal Health Advocates

On April 12, 2016, Kira Dixon Johnson entered Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for a scheduled cesarean section to deliver her second son. Kira was a vibrant, healthy 39-year-old woman who spoke five languages, had lived on three continents, and was a devoted mother and wife.

During the procedure, something went terribly wrong. Despite her husband Charles Johnson's repeated pleas to the medical staff that something was not right with his wife, his concerns were dismissed. Kira bled internally for over 10 hours before she was taken back into surgery. By then, it was too late.

Kira's death was preventable. Her story is tragically common — Black women in America are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. Charles turned his grief into action, founding this organization to ensure that no family endures what his did.

4Kira4Dads exists to equip fathers with the knowledge and tools to advocate for their partners during pregnancy and childbirth, turning tragedy into transformation.