In the era of savvy technology, of dealing with potentially apocalypse-inducing viruses and of community growth, when films like Take Care Of Maya hit screens, everything seems mundane and futile. Several questions bombard our minds, and our trust in government officials starts to waver. Heart-wrenching documentaries like Take Care Of Maya are in a league of their own, out to destroy hearts and narrate a story that is equal parts enlightening and baffling. Helmed by Henry Roosevelt, Take Care Of Maya follows the events of the Kowalski family as they weave through accusations, heartbreak, chronic illness and trauma like no other.
It is the tale of a broken system, of suspicious people and of parents who have to endure them along with a terminal illness. It has not only inspired Roosevelt to dedicate an almost 2-hour-long film but has also paved the way for a myriad of questions. Out of those, two questions have become immensely intriguing. Who is Maya and what happened to Beatrice? Here is everything you need to know about this Netflix documentary!
Who Is Maya?
A couple of years back, in the 2010s, we were moving to medical and technological advances at breakneck speed. Treatments for several diseases were being discovered, thanks to tech-savvy machines and dedicated doctors. In that decade, the firefighter Jack and the nurse Maya Kowalski brought their little angel home. In 2006, Maya Kowalski was born and filled the cosy Kowalski home with her cheerful waves of laughter. It only lasted for a few years though.
In 2015, the Kowalskis went through a major disaster. Maya developed a string of baffling symptoms including headache, turned-inward legs, dizziness and respiratory problems amongst others. Beata was a passionate nurse and a determined mother but Maya’s symptoms left her and Jack stupefied. The couple tried their best but the slowly deteriorating condition of their daughter was nibbling away at their resolve. Beata then, in a desperate move, stumbled across a highly experienced, well-acclaimed anesthesiologist, Anthony Kirkpatrick, and they finally let out a sigh of relief.
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What Happened To Beata?
Maya was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and the Kowalskis was shattered beyond repair. This condition had little to no treatments–still doesn’t–and that fact was the final nail in the coffin. Beata and Jack tried helping their daughter under the guidance of Kirkpatric. Slowly, Maya started recovering but it wasn’t long before Maya relapsed again.
In 2016, Maya’s condition severed and Jack, in a frenzy, got his daughter admitted to a children’s speciality hospital in Florida. The doctors started operating on her but they weren’t fully accustomed to Maya’s condition, leading Beata to lose her composure. Upon witnessing Maya’s assertive nature, Dr. Smith got suspicious and started investigating Maya’s disease. Eventually, she came to the conclusion that Beata was suffering from Munchausen disorder and led her daughter towards receiving huge amounts of ketamine as a treatment.
It then became Dr. Smith’s word against Beata’s and the childcare system of Florida preferred an experienced child abuse paediatrician of course. The accusations left a scar on Beata, a scar she would have had to carry with her for life. The world slowly started to flip on its axis, people started staring at Beata with contempt and even her husband slowly started to doubt everything.
Eventually, Beata’s resolve crumbled and she succumbed to suicide.
Where Is Maya Now?
Maya was under the care of the hospital Jack admitted her to for the course of three months. In this timespan, Maya was separated from Beata and even Jack could hardly get to see his daughter. In other words, Maya was under detention and no matter how hard Jack and Beata thrived, they couldn’t contradict Dr. Smith’s words in the court. They tried to file a lawsuit against the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and demanded that the childcare system investigate the reason behind the hospital’s misdemeanour. Alas, they couldn’t get their way and the Kowalskis lost their backbone.
Jack might have not confronted Beata directly or accused her but it was the suspicion and the guilt of not being able to help her daughter that ate at Beata’s soul. After spending more than three months in hospital detention, Maya finally got to take a liberating breath. It soon turned into gasps of sorrow and anguish when she witnessed her mother’s suicide note.
Now, Maya resides with her father and both the Kowalskis are revolting against the system that took a doctor’s word against a mother’s. Her treatment is ongoing but Maya has a mile-long road to walk on before being fully recovered. Though they could never get Beata back, the Kowalskis do deserve justice. As the Netflix documentary hints, they are closer than ever to their mission.
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