Despite OI, Eva Makes Every Day Her Best Day Ever
A genetic disorder might weaken her bones, but nothing breaks the spirit of this inspiring OI Clinic patient.
Nine-year-old Eva Fulmer has osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a genetic condition that causes her bones to be extremely fragile and break easily. Eva’s first bone fracture occurred even before she was born. “I was 34 weeks pregnant and went for an ultrasound,” says her mom, Tera. “Doctors told me she had a broken femur.”
Many more bone fractures would follow—around eight in total—in her wrist and in both legs. A few were so severe that they required orthopedic surgery to repair them. “The thing with OI is that you might break a bone just running around on the playground being a regular kid,” says Tera. “Eva has to be her biggest advocate and weigh the risks.”
For Eva to be scared and disheartened would be understandable, yet she is anything but. Her motto: “Today is the best day ever.”
“Despite her OI diagnosis, Eva has never seen it as a disability,” says Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta physical therapist, Melvin Sam. “She is fearless and has a positive attitude in life. She is a constant reminder to me that every day is a gift and you should take full advantage of it.”
“She just loves life,” adds Tera. “She is so adventurous and wants to do all the things. To experience as much as she can.”
With the steadfast support of her family and friends, as well as the quality care she gets from the multidisciplinary team of pediatric specialists at the OI Clinic at Children’s, Eva can live her life to the fullest. “With Eva’s spunkiness and her drive to be successful and not let anything hold her back, I think her possibilities are endless,” says Children’s orthopedic surgeon Jill Flanagan, MD. “I think she’s a miracle child because she represents the next generation of kids with OI."
