A new medical documentary has debuted on Netflix, following a hospital visit that destroyed an American family. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes have already dubbed it 'one of the most heartbreaking films of the year'.
Maya Kowalski had suffered with a string of unusual symptoms which became debilitating. In 2016, when she was 10 years old, Maya was admitted to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.
As medical professionals tried to figure out what was behind Maya's ailments, her mother Beata, a nurse, was accused of Munchausen's by proxy. Maya was taken out of her family's care for three months.
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Eighty-seven days in, tragically Beata was found dead with a note that said she couldn't deal with the pain of being away from her daughter and being 'treated like a criminal.' Her family, from Venice, Florida have since filed a lawsuit against John Hopkins All Children's Hospital. The trial is expected to start in September 2023.
What was Maya's condition?
Maya experienced headaches, stomach pain, asthma attacks, painful lesions on her arms and legs and severe cramping in her feet. Eventually, her mobility became so limited she could no longer walk.
Beata believed she had Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). According to the NHS, it is a 'poorly understood condition where a person experiences persistent severe and debilitating pain.'
It is thought that CRPS is triggered by an injury, but the resulting pain is 'much more severe and long-lasting than normal.' The pain usually only affects one limb, but it can sometimes spread to other parts of the body.
The skin of the affected body part can become so sensitive that a slight touch, bump or even a change in temperature can cause intense pain. Meanwhile affected areas can also become swollen, stiff or undergo fluctuating changes in colour or temperature.
The NHS adds that CRPS often gradually improves over time, but in some cases the pain can continue for years.
As reported by the Tampa Times, child protective investigators accused Beata of “doctor shopping” and child medical abuse, citing multiple medical treatments such as a trip to Mexico for a controversial ketamine coma therapy that isn’t legal in the United States.
Maya was previously put into a "ketamine coma" for five days in order to reset her nervous system. Following the treatment, she felt it had worked until a year later she was rushed back to hospital with excruciating stomach pain - and Beata was accused of Munchausen's by proxy, where a child's caretaker either makes up fake symptoms or causes real symptoms to make it look like the child is sick.
Now 17, Maya still lives with her father Jack and her brother Kyle in Florida. She is said to still suffer severe pain in her arms and legs.
Take Care of Maya is now available to stream on Netflix.
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