Erica Adams

“Now I’m not as afraid to loose someone because I accept what God is doing.”

In memory of grandmother Dixie KrutzSAU Freshman

SAU Freshman Erica Adams

For Erica Adams cancer is what took away one of the most influential people in her life, her grandmother, Dixie Krutz.

Erica describes her sophomore year of high school, 2008, as her worst year. She was struggling to attend classes, argued with teachers, and felt like being there was an overall waste of her time.

“I had a lot of bottled up emotions,” said Erica, “and didn’t really want to go on.”

But at home she was surrounded by a big, close, and loving family. Her grandmother was a big part of this: Dixie Krutz, who raised 11 children on her own, after both of her previous husbands had abandoned her.

Despite her hardships, Erica remembers her as a person who, “knew how to have fun.”

She went trick-or-treating until she was 40, in full cos-tume, and she never hesitated to speak her mind.

Erica remembers many funny moments with her grandmother, and the many times they argued over her new bits of advice to Erica’s life.

“I was in my rebellious stage, and didn’t really want anybody’s help,” said Erica.

It was during this time that her grandmother was diagnosed with Lung Cancer. At the time of her diagnosis her grandmother didn’t tell anybody. She wanted to be treated the same and not add to any of the existing grief.

Earlier in the year, Erica had lost a grandfather, an uncle and a two month old cousin.