Erica Abrams
Erica Abrams was born on August 24, 1984. She was a Black American woman from the outskirts of Philadelphia and the mother of Jonathan “Jon,” Dylan Abrams, and Nolan. She became a mother at sixteen and later died from complications of undiagnosed peripartum cardiomyopathy after Nolan’s birth.
Early Life and Background
Erica was a straight-A student. She became pregnant with Jonathan when she was fifteen, and her parents forced her out of their home after learning about the pregnancy. Erica did not initially tell Jonathan’s father, Jeffrey “Jeff” Abrams, that she had been thrown out.
Erica eventually confided in Jeff’s mother, Tracy, who had already become a mother figure to her. Tracy brought Erica into the PHA scattered-site house where she lived in an outer Philadelphia neighborhood. Tracy remained employed throughout this period. She had originally occupied the house while raising several children, but all of Jeff’s siblings had moved out by the time Erica joined the household. Jeff remained an authorized member of Tracy’s household.
Tracy brought Erica home before the housing paperwork was complete, then reported the change in household composition and obtained PHA approval to add Erica as a permanent household member. Jonathan was added to the household after his birth. Jeff, born on May 6, 1983, was one school year ahead of Erica and was seventeen when Jonathan was born. He already had a summer job and took on more work once he learned that the baby was coming. Like Erica, Jeff was a strong student and was known as quiet, responsible, and highly reliable. He came across as shy and was sometimes picked on for how little he spoke, but he was also well-liked among his peers and remained so in adulthood.
Erica and Jeff both completed high school and earned their diplomas while raising Jonathan, despite being told that neither of them would graduate. Jeff graduated in spring 2001. As an authorized PHA resident, he qualified for the Philadelphia Housing Authority’s Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program and entered carpentry through the program after graduation. Erica graduated in spring 2002. Jeff’s father had opposed Jeff’s decision to remain with Erica and parent their child. He accused Jeff of “being an idiot” for “letting” a girl “destroy his life” and told him, “You might as well say goodbye to a future now, boy.” Jeff’s father later made amends for his opposition.
Marriage and Family
Erica and Jeff later married and had three sons. Jonathan was born on October 19, 2000, when Erica was sixteen. Dylan was born on June 8, 2004, when she was nineteen, and Nolan was born on January 27, 2008, when she was twenty-three. She and Jeff were married by Nolan’s birth. The family lived on the outskirts of Philadelphia, and Tracy remained closely involved in their lives.
Health and Death
Main article: Erica Abrams (Peripartum Cardiomyopathy Journey)
After Nolan’s birth, Erica developed peripartum cardiomyopathy. She attended postpartum obstetric follow-up and explained that her recovery felt different from her recoveries after Jonathan’s and Dylan’s births, but her concerns were minimized as expected postpartum changes. The condition remained undiagnosed before Erica died from its complications at home.
Family and Core Relationships
Jeffrey “Jeff” Abrams
Erica and Jeff became parents as teenagers and later married. Jeff was born on May 6, 1983, and was one school year ahead of Erica. Both had been strong students, and both earned their high school diplomas while raising Jonathan. Once he learned that Jonathan was coming, Jeff continued at his summer job, took on more work, and helped provide for Erica and their son. He later became a carpenter and established his own carpentry business and workshop. The business’s success moved the Abrams family from working-class circumstances into the solid middle class. During Erica’s final postpartum period, he continued working while caring for her and their children.
Tracy
Tracy was a confidant and mother figure to Erica before Jonathan’s birth. She was a working mother living in a PHA scattered-site house. When Erica disclosed that her parents had expelled her from their home, Tracy brought her into the household and completed the process to have her approved as a permanent resident. Tracy remained part of Erica’s support system through her marriage to Jeff and cared for Erica and the children when Jeff had to work during Erica’s final illness.
Children
Erica had three sons: Jonathan, born October 19, 2000; Dylan, born June 8, 2004; and Nolan, born January 27, 2008. Erica was sixteen, nineteen, and twenty-three at their respective births. Nolan’s birth preceded the onset of her peripartum cardiomyopathy.