Maya Gauhar’s Story

April 11th, 2026, Maya Gauhar

What’s your name? What illnesses do you have?

Hi, my name is Maya, and I’m 15 years old. I have scoliosis and associated resulting health conditions. I was diagnosed with a rare form of scoliosis at 13 and wore a highly constrictive night brace for almost two years, causing severe insomnia and pain.

What do you wish people understood about your illness?

I wish people understood how the quality of my life was affected by my illness on any given day. I struggled to stay awake for months on end during the time I wore the night brace. My disrupted sleep caused other health concerns as well. Overall, I wish that people understood the weight someone might be carrying and would be more accepting in general.

How does your illness affect your daily life?

Scoliosis caused me moderately severe back pain, enough that I had to seek out an accommodation for orthopedic support chairs at school. It was uncomfortable standing out due a health issue. My frequent doctors appointments also led to considerable anxiety in eighth grade. I would miss school fairly often because of my scoliosis x-rays, checkups, etc.