Maria Baum was born with Williams syndrome, a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder strongly linked to cardiovascular disease
Credit: WBNS 10TV/YouTube
NEED TO KNOW
- Ohio resident Maria Baum, who was born with Williams syndrome, has defied medical odds while pursuing ice hockey
- The 22-year-old woman’s parents said doctors once warned she might never throw a ball of walk properly, but they encouraged her to try anything she wanted, including hockey
- Baum plays regularly with the Columbus Blue Jackets special hockey team, and she aims to be “the best player I can be”
A 22-year-old woman in Ohio, born with a rare genetic condition, has defied medical odds — all while pursuing her love of ice hockey.
Maria Baum was born with Williams syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder that is strongly linked to cardiovascular disease, according to local news outlet WBNS TV.
“When she was a baby, you know, she was a failure to thrive [FTT],” her father, Todd Baum, told the outlet of his daughter’s FTT diagnosis. “[Doctors said] she was in need of a heart transplant.”
Credit: Getty
“We heard that she would never throw a ball. She’d never walk properly,” he continued.
“It’s traumatic as parents, you know, because I think doctors are telling you what can happen or the horror stories, and so … you hear what your child is not capable of, what they won’t do. But what they don’t tell you is what they can overcome and what they’re capable of,” he added.
Todd said he and his wife consciously chose to never set limitations on Maria, who ultimately did not require that heart transplant.
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“We’ve always told Maria you can do anything your brother can do, and her brother was passionate about ice hockey,” he explained. “And when we first moved to town [in Columbus], she said, ‘I want to play hockey, too,’ and we happened to find the Columbus Blue Jackets special hockey team.”
“And when we came out it was just a match made in heaven. She turned out to really love ice hockey and has been playing it ever since,” he added.
Todd — who takes Maria to the rink to play every Saturday — went on to say that he believes he, his wife and his son have “learned far more from Maria than she’s ever learned from us.”
“The way she approaches her day, how present she is, how loving she is, what a great friend and communicator she is. The way she just finds the joy in every day,” he said.
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As for Maria, she said she loves everything about her time playing hockey.
“I like that I have teammates and my dad, and the helpers help out, and I really appreciate them supporting me and making sure I can get to my goal,” she said while speaking to WBNS TV.
Maria went on to say that she just wants to be “the best player I can be.”
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