Arizona

Arizona plans to revoke midwife’s license after mom, baby die from home birth complications

Published

2 years ago

May 30, 2024

Arizona plans to revoke midwife’s license after mom, baby die from home birth complications

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The state plans to take away an Arizona midwife’s license after a Safford mother and baby died during childbirth.

It happened after they were in her care for a home birth in December.

Arizona’s Family learned this is not the first time something has gone wrong with this midwife, and there are multiple documented citations that date back years.

Those past violations are concerning and frustrating for Parker Terry. The widower says he lost everything because they trusted someone who he says should have had her license revoked years ago.

“Just miss her. She should be here,” Terry said through tears. “She should be here raising her kids, being with me.”

Last Christmas was supposed to be a time of celebration for Terry and his growing family, but instead, it was marked with tragedy. He lost his wife Jordan and his newborn son Mack within a matter of hours in December after complications during a home birth.

“She started losing color in her face and I called it out to Sarah, and she just kind of just ignored me, saying that she’s doing OK,” said Terry. “When she went fully unconscious, I started freaking out obviously, and Sarah just said, ‘It’s OK. She’s just going into shock.’”

Terry says he eventually rushed her to the hospital, and Jordan was then airlifted to another hospital. But she didn’t survive, and Mack was a stillborn.

Late last year, Parker Terry lost his wife Jordan and newborn son Mack within a matter of hours after complications during a home birth.(Courtesy: Parker Terry)

He blames certified professional midwife Sarah Kankiewicz.

Terry says his wife’s last coherent words were a plea for help.

“Even after saying, ‘I want to go to the hospital,’ ‘you can do this’ is what Sarah would say. ‘Nope, you got this. You got this,’” said Terry.

He says they hired Kankiewicz based on a referral from a friend and her claims that she specializes in VBAC delivery. VBAC is short for vaginal birth after cesarean section, which medical professionals say can be high risk and, in rare cases, can cause a uterine rupture.

That’s what Terry says happened to Jordan after they trusted Kankiewicz.

“She said everything that we wanted to hear,” said Terry.

Jordan was 28 and an ER nurse in Safford.

She has two other children who were born in the hospital. She had a C-section with her daughter and then a VBAC with her son.

Terry says she dreamed of becoming a midwife, so she wanted to experience a home birth herself to better serve her future patients.

“Her passion was babies,” Terry said. “She wanted to take care of babies. She wanted to help bring them into the world.”

After Jordan and Mack died, a complaint against Kankiewicz was filed with the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Records show she was given five citations for failure to immediately alert emergency medical services after Jordan’s lips turned white, not following sanitary practices, and not checking vitals or dilation frequently enough. The report says due to Jordan’s medical history, a midwife should not have performed a VBAC.

ADHS then filed a notice of intent to revoke her license. See the complete notice at the bottom of this report.

“There was negligence and in this negligence, two people lost their lives,” said Terry.

This isn’t the first time the state has found deficiencies in Kankiewicz’s care. Heather Flowers filed a complaint after her own traumatic birth experience when Kankiewicz was her midwife four years ago.

“I could tell that there was a tear. I didn’t know to what degree, but I went into complete shock, so I became extremely numb,” Flowers said. “My daughter also was unresponsive. She was purple.”

An investigation found Kankiewicz worked outside of her scope of practice, failed to check vital signs frequently enough, and downplayed Flowers’ severe laceration.

“We survived, you know, but my greatest fear was that this was going to happen to another mom and another baby, which is why I reported her to the state,” said Flowers.

Kankiewicz has been licensed since 2020, and she’s been issued five civil penalties by ADHS for not submitting paperwork on time. Records show thousands of dollars of fines for repeat violations, which could be significantly reduced if paid quickly.

It’s something Kankiewicz posted about on social media, even writing “Why do I have a license again?!”

“Nothing was really done,” Flowers said. “A little slap on the wrist and now we have the loss of Jordan and her son Mack.”

Between Flowers’ and Terry’s complaints, another was filed, and an investigation leading to more citations was completed in November 2023. That was just one month before Jordan and Mack died.

The November report led ADHS to file a notice of intent to suspend her license in January after determining that Kankiewicz continued to treat a mother after she was diagnosed with hypertension.

“We didn’t know that there were the citations. We didn’t know there were other statements of deficiencies. We didn’t know that there were fines,” Terry said.

The state confirmed to Arizona’s Family on Thursday that her license remains active. That means she is legally allowed to continue practicing while the investigation continues.

But in a recent social media post, Kankiewicz says she chose to give back her license and step away permanently from her current practice.

“Where’s the accountability? Where’s the consequence here?” said Terry.

Terry believes his wife and son would still be alive had the state taken previous complaints more seriously. Now, he’s pushing for change and says more oversight and regulation for midwives are needed.

“The system’s broken. There’s broken, there’s holes, there’s loopholes, there’s gray areas,” he said.

Safford police say there is an active investigation into Kankiewicz, but right now, no criminal charges have been filed.

Arizona’s Family got in touch with Kankiewicz, who said she has no comment due to the open investigation.

ADHS issued the following statement Thursday afternoon: “We acknowledge the sensitivity of the issue. This is an ongoing and open enforcement action. At this time we will not provide any further details.”

Midwife Classification

It’s important to note there are two types of midwives in Arizona and both are legal.

The nursing board oversees Certified Nurse Midwives. These are described as registered nurses who obtain an advanced nursing degree to become a midwife. They fall under the jurisdiction of the Arizona State Board of Nursing.

They are required to maintain the standards of RNs, in addition to requirements and standards for nurse-midwifery defined in the Arizona Nurse Practice Act.

There are also non-nurse midwives who, like Kankiewicz, receive a national certification and are regulated by ADHS.

Complaints can be filed for both kinds, here for nurse midwives and here for non-nurse midwives. Records for any citations are also publicly accessible.

The bottom line is that if a patient or family is seeking a midwife who has RN training, they should seek a Certified Nurse Midwife. A good place to verify their status is through nursys.com, which claims to be the only national nurse licensure and disciplinary database.

Or, contact the Arizona State Board of Nursing online here or by phone at 602-771-7800.

For more information on non-nurse midwives, ADHS has a dedicated section on its website here.

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Arizona

WATCH: How Helping One Woman provides hope and support with ‘Girl’s Night Out’

Published

12 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

WATCH: How Helping One Woman provides hope and support with ‘Girl’s Night Out’

PEORIA, AZ — What if a simple dinner could help someone rebuild their life? In Peoria, a local chapter of Helping One Woman is doing just that by gathering once a month for a “Girls Night Out” with a powerful purpose.

Each month, women in the community nominate someone facing an unimaginable challenge: the loss of a spouse or child, a cancer diagnosis, or another life-altering hardship. That woman becomes the evening’s honoree.

At the dinner, attendees each contribute at least $10 and take part in raffles supported by local businesses. By the end of the night, the funds raised are gifted directly to the recipient to help with expenses during a difficult time.

But organizers say the money is only part of the impact. The room full of encouragement, hugs, and shared support can be just as powerful.

ABC15’s Cameron Polom talked with the Peoria chapter president and two women whose lives were changed thanks to the group’s generosity. See the full Uplifting Arizona story in the video player above.

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Arizona

What have the Cardinals done in NFL free agency? – Arizona Sports

Published

24 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

What have the Cardinals done in NFL free agency? – Arizona Sports

The NFL’s legal tampering window is officially open, and it didn’t take long for the Arizona Cardinals to get in the mix.

A running list of the new names and familiar faces coming to Arizona in 2026:

New names on Cardinals roster this free agency

Kendrick Bourne

The former San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots wide receiver brings another body to Arizona’s wide receivers room that includes Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr.

He’s got plenty of familiarity with new Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur from their time together in San Francisco (2017-20). Bourne also spent a year with expected Cardinals starter Jacoby Brissett in 2024 with the Patriots.

The wide receiver caught 37 passes for 551 yards in 16 games played (eight starts) last year.

He’s now on board for two years in Arizona.

Isaac Seumalo

The guard spent the past three years with the Pittsburgh Steelers after a seven-season stint with the Philadelphia Eagles.

He’s started 104 out of 125 games played and has spent time at both left and right guard during his NFL career.

According to Next Gen Stats, the guard allowed a 3.7% pressure rate last year. That was the lowest rate among all eligible guards in 2025.

Gardner Minshew

Minshew agreed to terms on a one-year deal on Monday.

He’s expected to back up expected starter Jacoby Brissett in 2026, according to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro.

Coming off his seventh NFL season and first with the Kansas City Chiefs, Minshew appeared in four games (one start) last year. He completed 46.2% of his throws for 37 yards and an interception.

Before landing with the Chiefs, Minshew spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders (2024), Indianapolis Colts (2023), Philadelphia Eagles (2021-22) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2019-20).

RB Tyler Allgeier

Allgeier comes over to Arizona on a reported two-year contract.

Before agreeing to terms on the $12.25 million deal with Arizona on Monday, Allgeier played four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.

He ran for 514 yards and eight touchdowns on 143 carries last year, while adding another 14 catches for 96 yards.

While he worked mostly behind Bijan Robinson the past three years, Allgeier did surpass the 1,000-yard mark as a rookie in 2022.

Familiar faces

L.J. Collier

Collier is back on a one-year deal.

The defensive lineman appeared in four games in 2025 due to a knee injury suffered in Week 2.

He recorded six tackles and two QB hits in what was his third season with the team.

Roy Lopez

After a one-year stint with the Detroit Lions, Lopez is back with his hometown team on a reported two-year deal.

In 17 games played last year, he recorded two sacks, four tackles for loss and a pass defensed.

Before his time in Detroit, Lopez spent two seasons with Arizona from 2023-24. During that span, he registered a sack, six tackles for loss, three passes defensed and a forced fumble in 30 games played (21 starts).

K Chad Ryland

Ryland is back on a one-year deal, the team announced.

Ryland went through plenty of struggles last season after a having a career year in 2024. His accuracy dropped from 87.5% in 2024 to 75.8% last season. He was especially inconsistent from 40 yards and on, compiling a 13-of-20 mark (65%). Inside 40 yards, though, Ryland was 12-of-13 (92.3%).

Arizona brought in kicker Josh Karty late in the year (more on him later), but Ryland never gave up his role and appeared in all 17 games.

A one-year deal isn’t going to break the bank by any means.

P Blake Gillikin

The Cardinals must feel pretty good about where Gillikin is at in his recovering from a back injury last year with their signing of the punter to a one-year deal.

Before he went down five games into the season, the punter was leading the league in yards per punt with 51.7.

Not only that, across his five seasons (65 games) in the NFL, he holds the all-time record for yards per punt at 48.5.

Staying healthy is key for Gillikin, who also missed time in 2024 due to an ankle injury.

RB James Conner

Technically not a free agent, Conner was a potential cut candidate given his contract.

But after reportedly revising his deal, Conner is returning for his sixth season with the Cardinals.

The running back brings plenty of leadership and a bruising running style to the mix.

He’s coming off an abbreviated 2025 (three games) due to an ankle injury but had rushed for a pair of 1,000-yard seasons the two years prior. He scored at least seven rushing touchdowns each season from 2022-24.

CB Sean Murphy-Bunting

Much like Conner, Murphy-Bunting was another prime cut candidate due to his contract but reportedly revised his deal with Arizona as well.

Murphy-Bunting has a lot to prove after missing all of 2025 due to an injury suffered away from the team facility.

In his first season with the Cardinals, the cornerback recorded 52 tackles, three interceptions, five passes defensed and two forced fumbles across 15 starts.

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Arizona’s Jaden Bradley named Big 12 men’s basketball player of year

Published

1 day ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Arizona’s Jaden Bradley named Big 12 men’s basketball player of year

The Arizona men’s basketball team went 29-2 overall and 16-2 in the Big 12, winning the conference’s regular season title.

The Wildcats were rewarded for their dominance in the Big 12’s men’s basketball awards, which were announced on March 9.

Arizona’s Jaden Bradley was named the Big 12 Player of the Year, while Tobe Awaka earned the conference’s Sixth Man of the Year award and coach Tommy Lloyd earned Coach of the Year accolades.

Bradley averaged 13.4 points and 4.6 assists. Awaka was the nation’s leading rebounder off the bench, averaging 9.7 rebounds and 9.9 points when entering the game as a reserve. Lloyd led Arizona to its first Big 12 regular-season title.

Arizona State was completely shut out of the awards, with Moe Odum not receiving honorable mention honors despite averaging 17.1 points per game and 5.9 assists per game for the Sun Devils.

2026 Phillips 66 All-Big 12 Men’s Basketball Awards

Player of the Year: Jaden Bradley, Arizona
Defensive Player of the Year: Flory Bidunga, Kansas
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Freshman of the Year: AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Newcomer of the Year: Melvin Council Jr., Kansas
Sixth Man Award: Tobe Awaka, Arizona*
Most Improved: Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
Coach of the Year: Tommy Lloyd, Arizona

All-Big 12 First Team

Jaden Bradley, Arizona
Brayden Burries, Arizona
Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
AJ Dybantsa, BYU*
Emanuel Sharp, Houston
Kingston Flemings, Houston*
Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
Flory Bidunga, Kansas
Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
JT Toppin, Texas Tech*

All-Big 12 Second Team

Richie Saunders, BYU
Baba Miller, Cincinnati
Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State
Darryn Peterson, Kansas

All-Big 12 Third Team

Koa Peat, Arizona
Cameron Carr, Baylor
Rob Wright, BYU
Themus Fulks, UCF
Xavier Edmonds, TCU

All-Big 12 Honorable Mention:

Arizona: Tobe Awaka
Baylor: Tounde Yessoufou
Cincinnati: Moustapha Thiam
Colorado: Isaiah Johnson
Houston: Joseph Tugler, Milos Uzan
Kansas: Melvin Council Jr.
Kansas State: PJ Haggerty
Oklahoma State: Parsa Fallah
TCU: David Punch
Texas Tech: Donovan Atwell
West Virginia: Honor Huff
Utah: Terrence Brown

All-Defensive Team

Jaden Bradley, Arizona
Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
Emanuel Sharp, Houston
Joseph Tugler, Houston
Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Flory Bidunga, Kansas*

A tie resulted in an extra position on the team

All-Freshman Team

Brayden Burries, Arizona*
Koa Peat, Arizona
AJ Dybantsa, BYU*
Kingston Flemings, Houston*
Darryn Peterson, Kansas*

All-Newcomer Team

Cameron Carr, Baylor
Themus Fulks, UCF
Baba Miller, Cincinnati
Melvin Council Jr., Kansas
Donovan Atwell, Texas Tech

*- unanimous selection

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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