Unveiling the Heart-Wrenching Truth: Maya's Untold Tale Behind Netflix Documentary

The story of Maya Kowalski and her family, which is the focus of the Netflix documentary Take Care of Maya, is still unfolding. This includes updates on Maya's current whereabouts and the latest events surrounding a $200 million lawsuit.

Within Netflix's documentary collection, there are many films and series that examine the topic of injustice in great detail. Some notable examples include 13th, Victim/Suspect, Making a Murderer, and Broad Daylight: The Narvarte Case.

It's difficult to witness, but crucial nevertheless. These instances serve to shed light on the unequal and corrupt aspects of society, often presenting a glimpse of hope or urging people to take action.

Streaming on Netflix is a new documentary film titled Take Care of Maya. The film revolves around the Kowalski family's real-life story and provides an update on Maya's current situation. Please note that this content may be distressing for some viewers.

What is Take Care of Maya about? 

Directed by Henry Roosevelt, Take Care of Maya on Netflix is a documentary movie that tells the story of Maya Kowalski from her family’s perspective. 

You can watch a clip from the documentary below:

In 2016, Jack and Beata Kowalski brought their daughter, Maya, to a hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida due to her severe stomach ache. However, rather than having a brief hospital visit, Maya was unexpectedly separated from her parents and kept there. The heart-wrenching events that followed are the focus of the investigative documentary Take Care of Maya, which sheds light on how a fragmented healthcare system shattered a family.

The shocking true story behind Take Care of Maya

The powerful narrative of Take Care of Maya revolves around Maya Kowalski, a young girl who endured unimaginable suffering throughout her childhood, plagued by insurmountable and agonizing pain.

In 2016, Maya's parents, Beata and Jack Kowalski, brought their 10-year-old daughter to Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. Maya had been experiencing severe abdominal pain. Beata, a registered nurse, asked the doctors to administer a high dosage of ketamine. She and Jack believed that Maya had complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and that ketamine was the only solution to alleviate her suffering.

This diagnosis did not arise out of nowhere. Maya, who suffers from CPRS, was diagnosed by Anthony Kirkpatrick, a local anesthesiologist who specializes in this condition. He suggested the ketamine infusion treatment. However, the high dose of the drug and concerns raised by the staff led to the involvement of Dr. Sally Smith. Dr. Smith, the medical director of Pinellas County's child protection team, was brought in to evaluate the case.

According to The Cut, it was revealed that Maya's parents had previously taken her to Hospital San José Tecnologico in Monterrey, Mexico. During her five-day procedure, Maya was sedated and intubated to receive high-dose infusions of ketamine.

However, the report also pointed out that Smith had a tendency to interpret cases aggressively, and that Pinellas County has one of the highest rates of children being removed from their homes compared to the other 66 counties in Florida, which already has high rates compared to the rest of the United States.

Although Kirkpatrick reminded Smith that he had suggested the treatment, Smith still believed that Maya was a victim of abuse and diagnosed Beata with Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a mental illness where the caregiver of a child fabricates fake symptoms or causes real symptoms to falsely portray the child as being sick.

Maya's visible agony was brushed off by accusations that she wasn't actually in pain. Kirkpatrick, concerned, reached out to a colleague, warning about making unfounded criminal accusations against a family member during the investigation, as it could harm the child and family. Despite Maya's pleas, Beata and Jack were forced to leave the hospital, and Maya remained under state custody despite a court ruling that cleared Beata of Munchausen's.

The battle to get Maya back was tough on the whole family, with Beata not knowing where to turn, as is shown in a clip from Take Care of Maya, which you can watch below: 

Sadly, Beata tragically took her own life after almost three months. She left a note, as reported by People, expressing her apologies but stating that she could no longer bear the anguish of being separated from Maya and being treated unfairly. She couldn't bear to see her daughter in pain, deteriorating further.

Just five days after Beata's passing, Maya was returned to her father's custody. It is understandable that the Kowalski family has subsequently filed a lawsuit against Johns Hopkins, with a trial scheduled to commence in September.

Where is Maya Kowalski now?

Maya Kowalski, who is currently 17 years old, continues to reside in Florida with her father Jack and brother Kyle. In their pursuit of justice for Beata's situation, her family has filed a lawsuit against the hospital. According to Greg Anderson, the Kowalski family's attorney, in an interview with People, the unique factor enabling them to bring this case to trial, unlike previous attempts, is Beata's comprehensive documentation and extensive research.

The Kowalski family witnessed their downfall and attempted to move forward without their central figure, the wife and mother. Beata was a remarkable force in caring for her family. The magnitude of their loss is indescribable.

Testimony for the trial, which involves $200 million, commenced on September 22nd. Hunter recounted to the court (as reported by the Independent): "Maya Kowalski was wrongfully imprisoned and subjected to physical abuse. She was denied the opportunity to communicate with her loved ones." As Hunter shared these details, Maya couldn't contain her tears. He further revealed that Beata tragically took her own life due to being unable to see her child while being accused of abuse.

Representing Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Howard Hunter refuted the allegations, asserting that the healthcare professionals involved acted with reason and prudence throughout the three-month duration of the challenging case they were confronted with. The case remains ongoing.

Jack testified that doctors at the hospital were not allowed to see Maya or accept gifts from her family, including Holy Communion. He also stated that he was threatened with arrest when attempting to visit his daughter. Continuing his testimony on October 3, Maya's father denied the allegations that his wife had hidden ketamine in holy water and wafers. As part of his statement, the jurors read one of two notes left by Beata, which blamed the custody judge for the troubles in their family and their financial ruin.

On October 5, social worker Catherine Bedy testified that she personally witnessed Maya's mother requesting ketamine for her daughter. Meanwhile, Maya's lawyer, Mark Zimmerman, asserted that both the hospital and the social worker had created barriers to limit contact between him and his client.

On Monday, October 9, Maya testified in court, recalling (according to FOX9): "During a phone call, I distinctly remember my mom being present, and the person she was conversing with falsely claimed that I never requested to speak with her. They stated that I was perfectly fine and content in my room, without any concerns or inquiries about why my parents were unable to see me.

"This infuriated me tremendously since I had spent countless days repeatedly demanding to speak with my parents. All I wanted was to connect with them, and I certainly wasn't simply idling away in my room. I was overwhelmed with emotion and shedding tears."

Doctors and nurses from John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital have testified in the trial, and the defense expects the case's detective to take the stand next.

You can now watch Take Care of Maya on Netflix. Don't forget to explore our other documentary coverage below:

Scouts Honor, The Lucie Blackman Case, The Isabella Nardoni Case, Where is Natalia Grace? Who are the Duggars? Victim/Suspect explained, Missing Dead or Alive explained, The Playing Card Killer, Who Killed Jill Dando? HBO's Burden of Proof explained, How to watch David Fuller: Monster in the Morgue, How to watch Hart family murders documentary, The Deepest Breath, True story of Last Call, The Devil on Trial: Terrifying true story.