Winter Garden resident completes virtual Boston Marathon

Since she was young, Winter Garden resident Maya Cohn has never been one to hide from adversity or challenges. 

On Monday, Oct. 11, she continued to defy expectations by running in the virtual Boston Marathon. 

Cohn was originally born in China. At eight years old, Laura Beth and her husband Adam Cohn adopted Maya and brought her back to the United States with them. 

Laura Beth said Maya was considered a "medical special needs" adoption due to several neurological issues she faced, including a large arachnoid brain cyst and a Chiari 1 Malformation of the brain, a rare congenital condition in which the brain tissue extends into the spinal canal and causes severe headache and neck pain. Maya has a cerebral shunt which helps to keep the pressure in her brain at a normal level due to hydrocephalus, the swelling of the brain from excess buildup of cerebrospinal fluid.

When Laura Beth and her husband first met Maya, they noticed she walked with an unsteady gait. Just going up and down the stairs was a challenge. 

Maya faced yet another challenge when it came to a language barrier she had to overcome.

Laura Beth said she was unsure if Maya would be able to learn English quickly. She was fluent within only a few months of coming to the U.S.

"Any challenge that she has encountered, she has overcome, due to sheer determination and will power," Laura Beth said. 

In elementary school, Maya started the 'Girls on the Run' program to help her build up her self-confidence. She has been running ever since. 

Now, at 19 years old, Maya is running more than ever. 

Maya ran the 26.2 miles of the marathon around her community loop in Winter Garden's Belle Meade. She said it took her about 6 hours.

"I listened to a live running app while I ran so I had coaches in my ears and music playing too," Maya said. 

Neighbors and friends came together to create a surprise for Maya by putting together motivational signs, balloons, and written sidewalk chalk messages around the neighborhood. 

"It made me feel special," Maya said. 

The neighborhood loop by the Cohn's house is about a mile, and Laura Beth said every time Maya passed their house, she rang a cowbell and cheered her daughter on. The family also had cold drinks and small snacks so Maya could quickly refresh along the way. 

Maya said one of the reasons she decided to run in the race was because of the unique medal that was offered for virtual runners. The medals feature the historic unicorn emblem and celebratory 125th anniversary year of the Boston Marathon. 

"Her willpower and self-discipline inspires me," Laura Beth said. "She makes a plan, she makes a goal, and then she just does it."

Maya graduated from Windermere High School's ESE program in 2020. She loves to sing and was heavily involved in the WHS chorus. She now works full-time as an assistant teacher at The Goddard School.