Race for Our Kids 2017-Meet Eva

Ten-year-old Eva Grem has been a patient at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore since being diagnosed with diabetes at age 4.

Eva had been perfectly healthy until a family vacation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, when, in addition to showing discomfort, she began displaying some of the major signs of diabetes: increased hunger and thirst and frequent urination. She cried the entire drive home from Myrtle Beach. Soon after the family returned home, a pediatrician ran tests and determined Eva had Type 1 diabetes, the rarer form of diabetes (only about 5 percent of people with diabetes have Type 1) which is usually found in children and young adults. Eva's condition was so severe the pediatrician ordered that she be taken to an emergency room immediately. Her mom, Sarah, was taken aback; she knew something was wrong, but surely wasn't anticipating her daughter's checkup resulting in a visit to the ER.

It turned out Eva was suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious complication of diabetes in which the body produces excess amounts of ketones, chemicals that are created when the body breaks down fat for energy when it can't rely on sugar (glucose) due to a lack of insulin. More common in people with Type 1 diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis can lead to a diabetic coma or even death without prompt medical care.

The Sinai ER staff performed numerous tests to better assess Eva's condition. After ruling out significant nerve damage, blindness and organ failure, the care team checked her blood sugar and fluids levels, started her on insulin and monitored her ketones until they were removed. The on-call pediatric endocrinologist admitted an extremely hungry Eva to The Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai. When Eva's family entered her hospital room, they were provided with in-depth information on diabetes and comforted by incredibly attentive nurses. The family was impressed by the outstanding personalized care Eva was receiving.

After stabilizing Eva, the staff developed a treatment plan and instructed her family on how to care for her. They taught her parents how to measure portion sizes specific to Eva's weight, height and nutritional needs. Her parents also were told to keep a log and fax it to Eva's doctors daily. The family left Sinai with all the supplies they needed, including prescriptions, and a wealth of knowledge. Eva's first doctor was Dr. McLaughlin, who is now retired. Eva is now being treated by Dr. Debra Counts.

Eva currently has a glucose monitor implanted in her upper right arm. She also has an insulin pump inserted in her hip. The glucose monitor is programmed to provide updates via an app to her mother Sarah's phone and the school nurses' iPads so they can keep a close eye on her blood sugar level. Children with diabetes have to be watched carefully when they are active to maintain blood sugar levels and because wounds tend to heal slowly for people with diabetes. Because autoimmune diseases such as diabetes can stunt growth, Dr. Counts evaluates Eva every three months to make sure she is still growing at a normal rate.

Yes, Eva feels that diabetes makes her life inconvenient at times. But she feels lucky to have such caring doctors and nurses - her extended family - who help make her life as normal as possible.

Eva and Sarah recently taught a course to Eva's Girl Scout troop called "Defending Diabetes" to educate her peers on the intricacies of her illness. Those who passed the course received a badge. Eva's favorite color is blue. She loves to swim, draw, paint, make bracelets and go camping. She recently learned how to ride a bike. She has two older brothers and two adorable dogs- a Beagle and a Labrador.

Please join Eva and her family in celebrating the 13th annual Race for Our Kids on Sept. 17. There will be chip-timed 5K and 10K races as well as a one-mile Family Fun Walk. A post-race party will follow. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Samuelson Children's Hospital.