As the Netflix documentary ‘Take Care of Maya’ documents, what happened to Beata Kowalski was the culmination of a long and fairly tragic story.
The Netflix documentary Take Care of Maya tells the story of Maya Kowalski, a young woman who was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome at the age of 9 in 2015, and her mother Beata. The story takes a decisively tragic turn, but that’s part of what has so many viewers so invested.
Now, many people want to know what happened to Maya’s mother, Beata, and why the family and everyone who has seen the documentary is so outraged about it.
What happened to Beata Kowalski?
Beata, a Polish immigrant who had worked her way through nursing school after arriving in the U.S., was a huge part of her daughter’s care following her diagnosis. Maya was diagnosed with a daily dose of ketamine to treat her symptoms, which included pain in several parts of her body as well as asthma. Maya suffered a relapse of symptoms in 2016 which included severe stomach pain, and was taken to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital for treatment.
SOURCE: YOUTUBE
Once there, doctors were apparently alarmed by the level of ketamine in Maya’s system and even referred to her as “ketamine girl” in text messages.
Doctors wanted to stop the treatment, and when Beata insisted they continue, doctors began to get suspicious. That, coupled with Beata’s seemingly pushy manner, led doctors to bring in a social worker who eventually said that Beata had “mental issues.”
Sally Smith, a pediatrician brought in to evaluate this case, diagnosed Beata with Munchausen by proxy, suggesting that she had intentionally been making Maya sick. Maya was taken into state custody and was allowed almost no contact with her parents.
Just three months after Beata was accused of making her daughter sick intentionally, she died by suicide in her garage in January 2017.
Following Beata’s death, which came just days after a judge ruled that the separation from her daughter should continue, the Kowalskis followed a lawsuit against All Children’s. The lawsuit alleges that false allegations of abuse ultimately prompted Beata’s death. Following an appeal from the hospital, the lawsuit has been delayed until September 2023 after a 2019 filing.
In spite of Beata’s death, her voice is woven through Take Care of Maya, and we hear her desperation to find care for her child in phone calls and other recorded conversations.
The people behind the documentary said that this is a nationwide problem, and they’ve heard from other people who experienced something similar to what Beata went through.
This is “a nationwide pattern, where families are accused of child abuse and [are] preaching their innocence,” director Henry Roosevelt told Vanity Fair.
After Beata’s death, Maya was allowed to return home to her father. Although the case is not yet decided, the producers still wanted to share their story.
“At a certain point, you have to stop filming,” producer Caroline Keating says. “But this is their truth, that the trial hasn’t happened yet. And we think that’s important to show that they are still fighting.”
FAQ
Who took care of Maya?
Dr. Sally Smith ripped Maya Kowalski away from her parents during a difficult time and put her in the state’s care.
Who is Dr. Sally Smith?
Dr. Sally Smith is a child abuse pediatrician. She has once again found herself at the center of controversy surrounding her work as the former medical director for the Pinellas County Child Protective Services team in Florida, thanks to Netflix’s newest documentary, “Take Care of Maya.”
What does Maya Kowalski have?
Maya had complex regional pain syndrome or CRPS, and she required high doses of doctor-prescribed ketamine to manage her pain. For about a year, the treatment worked, and Maya saw vast improvements in her symptoms.
What happens to Maya in Take Care of Maya?
Maya was eventually taken away from her home and placed in state custody while officials tried to determine the cause of her illness. Devastated by her daughter’s absence, Maya’s mother, Beata, died by suicide while fighting to get her daughter back.
Is Taking Care of Maya a true story?
Yes, Take Care of Maya covers the true story of Maya Kowalski. Maya was 10 when she was admitted to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital due to severe pain and vomiting in 2016.
What does Maya Kowalski have?
Maya’s symptoms were later discovered to be linked to the rare neurological condition Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, known as CRPS – but not before tragedy struck for the Kowalski family.
What was Beata Kowalski’s cause of death?
In January 2017, while Maya was still being held in the hospital, her mother Beata died by suicide.
How old is Maya Kowalski now?
Maya is currently 17 years old as she was born in 2006. The complex and tragic story of Maya, now 17, is the subject of “Take Care of Maya,” a new Netflix documentary streaming Monday.