A heart-wrenching documentary, "Take Care of Maya," unveils the Kowalski family's harrowing journey through the medical system as they struggled to manage their daughter's rare and debilitating illness. Ten-year-old Maya Kowalski suffered from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a poorly understood neurological disorder causing agonizing pain. The film chronicles the family's experience at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital (JHAC) in Florida, where their ordeal took a devastating turn.
Admitted after a relapse, Maya's mother, Beata, a registered nurse, advocated for her daughter, insisting on ketamine treatments that had previously provided relief. However, medical staff at JHAC questioned Beata's insistence, interpreting it as medical abuse, specifically Munchausen syndrome by proxy. This rare disorder involves a caregiver fabricating or inducing illness in a dependent for attention.
The documentary reveals the escalating tension between the Kowalskis and the medical team. While Beata fought for her daughter's care, Dr. Sally Smith, director of the Pinellas County child protection team, intervened, leading to Maya being placed in state custody. The family's attorney, Greg Anderson, argues that the hospital staff lacked expertise in pain management, CRPS, and ketamine treatments, leading to misinterpretations of Beata's advocacy.
Separated from her parents for months, Maya’s condition saw little improvement. The film highlights the emotional toll of the separation and the Kowalskis' legal battle to regain custody. Tragically, Beata died by suicide amidst the ongoing legal proceedings, leaving the family shattered. The documentary also presents internal hospital communications following Beata's death, raising further questions about the handling of Maya’s case.
The Kowalskis are now pursuing legal action against JHAC and the child protective services worker involved in Maya's case. The documentary raises critical questions about medical bias, parental advocacy, and the devastating consequences of misdiagnosis and mistrust within the healthcare system. It also highlights the importance of thorough medical record-keeping for families navigating complex medical situations.
