She became the centre of a storm of controversy in 1985 when she was banned from her local pre-school amid fears she might infect other children. Van Grafhorst was born prematurely in 1982, and required eleven blood transfusions to save her life.
The eleventh transfusion was contaminated, and van Grafhorst contracted Human Immunodeficiency Virus. van Grafhorst was eventually permitted to attend school, provided she wore a plastic face-mask at all times. Some parents suggested that this was not sufficient, and that the van Grafhorsts should leave town. The van Grafhorsts did indeed leave town, moving to Hastings, New Zealand in 1986.
In contrast to their Australian experience, the van Grafhorst family was welcomed.
Eve lived a relatively normal life and attended a local school without incident. She died in 1993, aged 11 years.
Her story had been widely reported throughout the world, and on her tenth birthday, Eve was sent a letter and signed photograph from Diana, Princess of Wales. After Eve died, her mother Gloria received a letter from Diana praising Eve for her "courage and strength".
Anti-retroviral treatments became available in New Zealand in about 1997.
New Zealand"s annual death toll from all Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome-related conditions fell from the mid-80s in 1993 to three to four by 2008.
