Content warning: The following piece contains mentions of suicide, abuse, and trauma and may be triggering for some. Reader discretion is advised.
If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK(8255) or visit their website.
Netflix’s Take Care of Maya tells the story of the Kowalski family's dark experience with Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. Maya Kowalski was brought into the ER to treat a stomach ache worsened by her CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) when child abuse pediatrician Dr. Sally Smith accused Maya's mother, Beata Kowalski, of abuse by Munchausen syndrome by proxy. This disorder is described by the National Institutes of Health as the fabrication of disease symptoms in another person.
Maya was taken away from her parents Jack and Beata and was forced to remain at All Children's Hospital for months. The Cut reports that Maya briefly saw her parents at a court hearing after a long period of separation but was not allowed to hug her mother. Shortly after that court hearing, Beata committed suicide, leaving behind Jack, Maya, and Maya's younger brother, Kyle.
Jack tells The Cut that he and his son had returned from a neighborhood birthday celebration that night, and upon seeing Kyle's bedroom door closed, assumed Beata had fallen asleep in her son's room for comfort. "[Sleeping in Kyle's room] was like her security blanket. You know, that's all she had — Kyle," he explained. The next morning, Jack discovered Beata's body in the garage.
Where is Kyle Kowalski now?
Kyle does not currently have an active, public social media presence. His exact age is not known but his older sister, Maya, is now 17 years old. Kyle, Maya, and Jack live together in Florida.
In October 2018, Jack, Maya, and Kyle Kowalski sued Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Florida's Department of Children and Families, Dr. Sally Smith, her previous employer Suncoast Center Inc, and Cathi Bedy, Maya’s former social worker. According to The Cut, Suncoast and Smith settled their portion of the lawsuit for $2.5 million.
The documentary reports that the trial for the Kowalski family's lawsuit against Johns Hopkins will begin in September 2023.
Hannah is the assistant shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things from cute apartment decor to trendy fashion finds, TikTok products that are actually worth your $$$, and the perfect gift to buy for your boyfriend's mom. She previously wrote for Seventeen and CR Fashion Book. Follow her on Instagram for hot takes on red carpet fashion and unhinged updates on the books she’s reading on the train.
