What Is Take Care of Maya About?
The premise of Take Care of Maya in 277 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a quiet suburban home filled with warmth and devotion, the Kowalski family faces a crisis that tests the limits of their love and resolve. When their bright young daughter, Maya, begins experiencing troubling symptoms — mysterious skin lesions, breathing difficulties, and relentless pain — her parents, Jack and Beata, embark on a desperate search for answers that will reshape their lives forever.
As Maya’s condition proves difficult to diagnose, the Kowalskis find themselves caught in the exhausting maze of modern pediatric medicine. Countless appointments blur into one another as specialists struggle to identify the rare illness afflicting their daughter. The family’s world narrows to hospital waiting rooms, medical jargon, and the fierce determination to find someone — anyone — who can help their child recover. Tensions rise as hope and frustration intertwine, with Jack and Beata drawing strength from one another while navigating a healthcare system that often feels indifferent to their suffering.
Shot in an intimate, observational style, the documentary captures the Kowalskis with remarkable closeness, allowing viewers to witness the quiet moments of fear, tenderness, and exhaustion that define their journey. Home videos, candid interviews, and emotional exchanges reveal the family’s deep bonds and Beata’s unwavering role as Maya’s fiercest advocate, while Jack offers steady grounding amid the chaos.
Take Care of Maya unfolds as a deeply human portrait of parental love under extraordinary pressure — a story about fighting for a child, trusting medical expertise, and confronting institutions that sometimes seem to work against the very families they are meant to serve. It is a haunting exploration of vulnerability, perseverance, and the lengths to which parents will go to keep their family whole.
What Happens in Take Care of Maya?
The complete story of Take Care of Maya, from the first scene to the last, in 774 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
Set in early 2015, the story follows the harrowing experience of Jack and Beata Kowalski and their nine-year-old daughter, Maya. The young girl begins to suffer from a series of devastating health issues, including skin lesions, lower limb dystonia, severe breathing problems, and debilitating chronic pain. After visiting numerous medical professionals without finding a clear cause for her suffering, they finally meet Dr. Anthony Kirkpatrick. He provides a firm diagnosis: Maya is suffering from advanced complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).
To combat this condition, Dr. Kirkpatrick suggests the use of ketamine. When initial low doses fail to provide relief, he recommends a more drastic measure—a ketamine coma. This process involves administering a massive dose of the medication to induce a five-day coma. The procedure is a success, significantly reducing Maya’s symptoms. For the following year, she is prescribed 1,000 mg of ketamine daily to keep her condition stable.
However, the situation takes a dark turn on October 7, 2016, when Maya suffers a relapse. Jack rushes her to the emergency room at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital (JHACH). The medical staff there are unfamiliar with the specifics of CRPS and become deeply concerned by the high dosage of ketamine Maya has been receiving. When Beata arrives at the hospital, the physicians perceive her as “belligerent,” “demanding,” and “controlling” regarding her daughter’s medical care. This clash of personalities leads the hospital staff to doubt the validity of Maya’s diagnosis entirely.
Suspecting that Maya is actually a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, the hospital contacts child protective services. Dr. Sally Smith, a pediatrician specializing in child abuse, interviews both Maya and Jack. Based on these interactions, Dr. Smith concludes that Beata is abusing her child. In a sudden and traumatic turn of events, a nurse informs Jack that Maya has been placed under state custody and orders him to leave the premises.
Desperate to reunite their family, the Kowalskis hire a lawyer named Debra Salisbury. Salisbury reveals a disturbing pattern: the Suncoast Center, which provides privatized child welfare services for Pinellas County, seems to be overly aggressive. Her research indicates that children in Pinellas County are nearly two and a half times more likely to be removed from their homes than the Florida average. Meanwhile, the doctors at JHACH completely ignore Dr. Kirkpatrick’s established treatment plans. While Beata is infuriated by this negligence, Jack urges her to remain calm to avoid further tension with the hospital administration.
The legal battle intensifies when a judge issues a no-contact order between Beata and Maya, though Jack is permitted supervised visits. Dr. Kirkpatrick warns the parents that without the necessary ketamine treatments, the prolonged and severe pain could eventually lead to Maya’s death.
Under the strict and oppressive supervision of a social worker named Cathi Bedy, Beata is finally allowed to speak to Maya via phone. Upon researching Bedy online, Jack discovers a shocking detail: Bedy had been previously arrested for child abuse. Despite Maya crying for her mother and pleading to go home, Bedy attempts to have Beata’s calling privileges revoked. As the investigation by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office continues, Beata faces multiple court hearings where the judge consistently sides with Dr. Smith and the hospital. In one heartbreaking instance, Beata’s simple request for one single hug with her daughter is denied. Overwhelmed by grief and believing she is the only obstacle to Maya’s freedom, Beata dies by suicide after spending 87 days separated from her daughter.
The tragedy gains public attention when Daphne Chen, a reporter for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, begins investigating the flaws of the Florida child welfare system. Her January 2019 article reveals that the Kowalskis were not alone; many other parents had experienced similar nightmares at Johns Hopkins, all stemming from reports made by Dr. Sally Smith. Further discovery revealed a staggering contradiction: while the hospital claimed Maya was lying about her illness, they had actually charged the Kowalskis’ insurance for 174 different CRPS treatments.
The legal battle culminated in late September 2023 in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. Jack Kowalski, acting on behalf of himself, Maya, Kyle, and the estate of Beata, filed a lawsuit against Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital for $220 million, seeking both compensatory and punitive damages. On November 9, 2023, the jury ruled in favor of the Kowalskis, awarding a total of $261 million. Although a judge later reduced this award by $47.5 million via remittitur, the entire award was ultimately overturned on appeal on October 29, 2025. The appellate court ruled that the hospital deserved more legal protection as a state-mandated reporter of child abuse. The case has since been remanded for a retrial.
Take Care of Maya Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Maya Falls Mysteriously Ill” to “The Award Is Overturned on Appeal”. 6 events name a place, across 4 locations.
- 1
Maya Falls Mysteriously Ill
In early 2015, nine-year-old Maya Kowalski begins suffering from breathing problems, skin lesions, lower limb dystonia, and debilitating chronic pain. Her parents, Jack and Beata, take her to countless doctor appointments, but no physician can provide a firm diagnosis. The family is left desperate for answers as Maya's condition continues to worsen.
When:Early 2015
- 2
A Diagnosis at Last
Dr. Anthony Kirkpatrick diagnoses Maya with advanced complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a rare and intensely painful disease. He determines that the condition can be treated with ketamine, offering the family their first real hope. The diagnosis finally gives a name to Maya's mysterious suffering.
- 3
The Ketamine Coma
After low doses of ketamine prove ineffective, Dr. Kirkpatrick recommends an aggressive procedure in which Maya is given a large amount of ketamine to induce a five-day coma. The risky treatment proves successful, and Maya's pain and symptoms are significantly reduced. For the first time in over a year, the family sees a path to recovery.
- 4
A Year of Relief
Maya is prescribed 1,000 mg of ketamine daily to manage her CRPS symptoms. The treatment keeps her condition under control for roughly a year, allowing her to live a relatively normal life. The Kowalskis believe the worst is finally behind them.
- 5
A Relapse Sends Maya to the ER
On October 7, 2016, Maya relapses and her father Jack rushes her to the emergency room at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. The hospital staff are unfamiliar with CRPS and become alarmed by the amount of ketamine Maya has been receiving at home. What begins as a desperate trip for treatment quickly turns into a family's worst nightmare.
When:October 7, 2016 Where:Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital
- 6
Hospital Staff Grow Suspicious
When Beata arrives at the hospital, the ER physicians describe her as 'belligerent,' 'demanding,' and 'controlling' regarding Maya's treatments. Her insistence on ketamine therapy leads them to question the validity of Maya's diagnosis. Suspecting Munchausen syndrome by proxy, the hospital staff contacts child protective services.
Where:Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital
- 7
Maya Is Taken Into State Custody
Dr. Sally Smith, a child abuse pediatrician, interviews Maya and Jack and concludes that Beata has been abusing her daughter. A nurse then informs Jack that Maya is now under state custody and orders him to leave the hospital. The Kowalskis lose custody of their child on the very day they sought medical help for her.
Where:Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital
- 8
The Legal Battle Begins
The Kowalskis hire lawyer Debra Salisbury, who warns them that cases like theirs are common. She discovers that Dr. Smith works for the Suncoast Center and that children in Pinellas County are almost two and a half times as likely to be removed from their families as the Florida average. A judge issues a no-contact order between Beata and Maya, and without ketamine treatments, Dr. Kirkpatrick warns that Maya's prolonged severe pain could cause her death.
Where:Pinellas County, Florida
- 9
Supervised Calls Raise Red Flags
Beata is finally able to call Maya, but only under the strict supervision of Cathi Bedy, a Suncoast social worker. Jack researches Bedy online and discovers she had previously been arrested for child abuse. When Maya cries for her mother and tells Beata she wants to go home, Bedy attempts to have Beata's calling privileges revoked.
- 10
The Courts Side With the Hospital
Beata, under pending investigation by the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, undergoes several court hearings that repeatedly result in the judge siding with the hospital and Dr. Smith. During one hearing, she makes an emotional request for a single hug with her daughter. The request is rejected, deepening her despair as she remains separated from Maya.
Show the other 5 events of Take Care of Maya Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Beata's Tragic Death
Believing she has become the impediment to Maya's freedom, Beata dies by suicide. She takes her own life after spending 87 days without her daughter. Her devastating death transforms the family's medical nightmare into a tragedy that will expose flawlines in Florida's child welfare system.
- 12
A Reporter Uncovers a Pattern
Sarasota Herald-Tribune reporter Daphne Chen is investigating child welfare in Florida when she comes across the Kowalskis' case. Her January 2019 article opens the floodgates to multiple parents who went through similar situations at Johns Hopkins. All of the cases originated from reports made by Dr. Smith.
When:January 2019 Where:Florida
- 13
The Kowalskis Take Johns Hopkins to Court
Through the discovery process, it is revealed that Johns Hopkins charged the Kowalskis' medical insurance for 174 different CRPS services and treatments while simultaneously maintaining that Maya was lying about her condition. In late September 2023, the lawsuit goes to trial in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. Jack, on behalf of himself, Maya, Kyle, and the estate of Beata, sues Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital for $220 million.
When:Late September 2023 Where:Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida
- 14
A Landmark Verdict
On November 9, 2023, after two days of deliberations, a six-person jury finds in favor of the Kowalski family. The jury awards $261 million in total compensatory and punitive damages against Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. However, the judge subsequently grants a defense motion for remittitur, reducing the award by $47.5 million.
When:November 9, 2023
- 15
The Award Is Overturned on Appeal
On October 29, 2025, the verdict is overturned on appeal on a number of grounds, including that the court erred in not giving more legal protection to the hospital in its role as a state-mandated reporter of suspected child abuse. The case is remanded for retrial, meaning the Kowalski family's fight for justice is not over.
When:October 29, 2025
Who Are the Main Characters in Take Care of Maya?
5 characters, among them Jack Kowalski, Beata Kowalski and Maya Kowalski: who each one is and the part they play in the story.
- JK
Jack Kowalski
Jack is a devoted father, fiercely protective of his daughter, Maya. His character evolves from a hopeful parent seeking help to a desperate man fighting against an overwhelming system. Jack's resilience and determination to reunite his family define his journey throughout the film.
- 👨👧 Fatherhood
- 💪 Resilience
- BK
Beata Kowalski
Beata is portrayed as a loving mother whose devotion to her daughter's well-being leads her into a heartbreaking struggle with the medical and legal systems. Despite her strong will, Beata's character ultimately represents the tragic consequences of being misjudged and misunderstood.
- 👩👧 Motherhood
- 😢 Tragedy
- MK
Maya Kowalski
Maya is a nine-year-old girl battling severe medical issues that are central to the story. Her innocence and desperate longing for her mother's love resonate throughout the narrative, highlighting the injustices inflicted upon her by the very systems meant to protect her.
- 👧 Innocence
- 🔍 Vulnerability
- DA
Dr. Anthony Kirkpatrick
Dr. Kirkpatrick is a key figure in Maya's medical journey, providing a crucial diagnosis and treatment plan. He represents the medical community's struggles with rare and misunderstood illnesses. His character illustrates both the hope offered by medical advancements and the challenges faced by patients and their families.
- 👨⚕️ Medicine
- 💡 Hope
- DS
Dr. Sally Smith
Dr. Smith is portrayed as a pediatrician who plays a pivotal role in the legal proceedings against the Kowalskis. Her dogmatic approach to child protection raises critical questions about authority and the potential for misjudgment in cases of suspected abuse.
- 👩⚕️ Authority
- ⚠️ Controversy
Where and When Is Take Care of Maya Set?
Take Care of Maya is set in Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, Pinellas County and Florida (2015-2025). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
2015-2025
The events of the film take place from early 2015 through 2025, encapsulating a tumultuous period for the Kowalski family. This era saw advancements in medical treatments juxtaposed with serious flaws in child protective services, drawing public attention to the challenges faced by families navigating the healthcare and legal systems.
Where
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, Pinellas County, Florida
The movie prominently features Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, known for its pediatric care and innovative treatments. Located in Pinellas County, Florida, this area is often discussed in the context of its child welfare system, which has faced scrutiny over aggressive child removal practices. The hospital's reputation becomes entwined with the harrowing story of the Kowalski family.
- 🏥 Hospital
- 🌴 Location
What Are the Themes of Take Care of Maya?
2 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Justice and Heartbreak.
-
01
Justice
The theme of justice plays a crucial role in the narrative as the Kowalski family battles the legal system and hospital practices. Their fight culminates in a high-stakes lawsuit that highlights the discrepancies in child welfare practices. The pursuit of justice becomes a symbol of hope amid the family's tragic circumstances.
-
02
Heartbreak
Heartbreak permeates the story as the Kowalskis endure unimaginable loss and separation. Beata's tragic decision underlines the emotional toll of being unjustly accused and separated from her child. The film captures the deep suffering families experience when caught in a flawed system.
What Kind of Film Is Take Care of Maya?
Bleak in tone, with variable pacing and a complex story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Bleak
- Pacing
- Variable
- Story
- Complex
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Mixed
A deeply upsetting documentary chronicling a family's agonizing ordeal against hospitals and child welfare systems, where maternal devotion is pathologized and tragedy becomes impossible to undo.
- oppressive
- heartbreaking
- devastating
- infuriating
- anxious
- somber
- child custody battle
- medical gaslighting
- systemic failure
- parental rights
Content notes: suicide, child custody dispute, medical trauma, parental rights violation, institutional failure, death of a parent.
Quiz
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