In Memory of Maryze Schoneveld van der Linde

With great sadness, we have said goodbye to Maryze Schoneveld van der Linde.

Within our center, Maryze was a well-known and highly respected patient, but above all, an extraordinary person. Her commitment extended far beyond her own situation. For many years, she devoted herself wholeheartedly to people with Pompe disease, both in the Netherlands and abroad.

Despite her own battle with this illness, Maryze continued to dedicate herself unconditionally to the global Pompe community. Her dedication, engagement, and knowledge were of international significance, and everyone knew where to find Maryze. She was more than a patient. While she came to our center for treatment and follow-up, she just as often reached out to us for a very different reason — not for herself, but for others. Time and again, she would ask if we could help patients in need or provide her with input to make treatments accessible in other countries. Through her, patients found new hope, and thanks to her, many eventually received the right care. She was often the bridge: connecting and persistent.

To us, Maryze was not just someone we treated, but someone who challenged us, who thought alongside us, and who felt a deep responsibility for the wider community. We are grateful to have known and supported Maryze up close. Her life and work remind us of how powerful one voice can be — and how important it is to keep that voice alive.

We will miss her dearly, not only as a patient but also as a bridge-builder and advocate for the Pompe community.

Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and all whose lives she touched.

Rest in peace, dear Maryze