Maya Kowalski suffered from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) as a child. But when she was admitted to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, they diagnosed her with Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSP) — suggesting it was her mother who made up symptoms or caused real ones to make it look like she was ill — only later to realize that she indeed had CRPS. A lot of the damage was already done by then!
Keep reading this Maya Kowalski Bio to learn more about her.
Meet Maya Kowalski, The Subject Of Netflix’s Take Care of Maya
Maya Kowalski is the subject of the Netflix documentary Take Care of Maya.
“When 10-year-old Maya Kowalski was admitted to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in 2016, nothing could have prepared her or her family for what they were about to go through,” the show’s official synopsis read.
The documentary is voiced in Maya’s own words, and it will change the way you look at children’s healthcare forever.
At the age of 8, Maya started having severe headaches, followed by her feet curling inwards, lesions forming on her every limb, and her skin feeling like it was on fire. Thus, she was rushed to multiple doctors, only for none of them to be of any actual help. While some were truly amazed by her symptoms, a couple suggested it was all in her head. Thankfully, her parents knew Maya wasn’t faking it and didn’t falter in their efforts to get her some treatment.
So, with no help whatsoever, Maya’s mother started researching on her own and concluded that her daughter could have the rare Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). In October 2015, she then took Maya to see Dr. Anthony Kirkpatrick, who confirmed that her ailment was indeed CRPS and offered a concrete treatment plan.
Sadly, Dr. Anthony’s initial physical therapy combined with low ketamine infusions didn’t work, and he suggested that they should opt for a much more drastic (experimental) ketamine coma to reset her entire system. This was a risky procedure, but it did wonders for Maya only leaving her with a few side effects like blurry vision.
Thereafter, Maya continued taking ketamine infusions until October 7, 2016, when she suffered from crippling stomach pain and had to be rushed into the emergency room at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg. There, the doctors found out that she had been taking high doses of ketamine, and they contacted child protective services.
As per the doctors there, Maya likely had Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSP), suggesting it was her mother who made up symptoms or caused real ones to make it seem like she was ill. They assessed that Maya’s mother was not mentally fit, and as the case reached the court, Maya was ordered to be admitted to the hospital under state custody.
Devastated, Maya’s mother, who knew her little girl’s health was deteriorating but couldn’t do anything, took her own life in January 2017! This led to a second specialist checking out Maya and confirming she had CRPS — after which she was released from the hospital into her father’s custody for good.
Where Is Maya Kowalski Today?
Maya Kowalski has found somewhat of closure as her story has been heard worldwide, thanks to the Netflix show.
In addition, Maya’s family has sued Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Child Abuse Pediatrician Dr. Sally Smith, Social Worker Catherine “Cathi” Bedy, and a third-party organization for punitive damages on the grounds of causing them extreme distress. The latter two have settled the matter with the family, whereas the case against the medical center was set to go on trial in September 2023.
As for her treatment, the court ordered the hospital to follow a different, slower treatment plan for her intense CRPS that didn’t involve ketamine. Thus, it took over a year of physical therapy and relatively lower-dosage medicine for her to move from her wheelchair to just her crutches.
Today, she can walk freely.
With this being said, the documentary stated that Maya can relapse at any time due to the nature of her illness.
Maya Kowalski Age
Maya Kowalski was born in 2006. That made her 17 years of age in 2023.
Also, this means she was just 10 when she was “medically kidnapped” leading to her mother’s death.
Maya Kowalski Family
Maya Kowalski comes from a family of four.
As mentioned before, her mother, Beata Kowalski chose to end her life on Jan 8, 2017, at the age of 44. “I’m sorry,” she wrote in an email discovered after her death, “but I no longer can take the pain of being away from Maya and being treated like a criminal. I cannot watch my daughter suffer in pain and keep getting worse.”
Beata was a nurse by profession.
On the other hand, her father, Jack Kowalski (born: Jul 1961) was a firefighter. He was a Deputy Fire Chief at Elmhurst’s Broadview Fire Department when her daughter was admitted to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.
Find Jack on IG @jack.a.kowalski.
As for her sibling, Maya has a brother named Kyle Kowalski (IG @kyle_kowalsk1 and TikTok @kylekowalski1). He worked in media and was a fishing enthusiast.
Is Maya Kowalski On Instagram?
Find her on Instagram @mayakowalsk1.
Also, here’s her TikTok @mayakowalsk1.
Maya Kowalski Boyfriend
Maya Kowalski was so in love with her boyfriend Jon Luc @jonluc_v.
The duo was last spotted together at Tribeca Film Festival in New York City.
After their appearance, Jon took to his IG to post a series of photos from that day and wrote, “Taking Care Of Maya.” Likewise, Maya posted the same pics on her IG post captioned, “Taken Care Of”
Related FAQs
Where Is Maya Kowalski From?
Maya hails from St. Petersburg, Florida.
When Is Maya Kowalski Birthday?
She didn’t reveal her birthday.
How Tall Is Maya Kowalski?
Maya stands tall at a height of under 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm).
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