Maya Kowalski Now? All About Her Life After Getting ‘Medically Kidnapped’ 10 Years Ago

It has been 10 years since Maya Kowalski’s medical nightmare began — an ordeal that would ultimately become a family tragedy when her mother, Beata Kowalski, died by suicide after being accused of Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

After her mother’s death, Maya and her family sued Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, winning a $213 million judgment in November 2023. Nearly two years later, in October 2025, an appeals court reversed that ruling.

Maya’s story drew national attention and was documented in the 2023 Netflix film Take Care of Maya. In 2015, at age 9, Maya developed severe asthma attacks, headaches and painful lesions on her arms and legs. Her symptoms baffled doctors, and one suggested her pain might be psychosomatic. But her father, Jack Kowalski, insisted the suffering was real. “Maya would be crying constantly,” he said. “We knew she wasn’t pretending.”

Eventually Maya was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a rare neurological disorder that causes intense pain and extreme sensitivity to touch.

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Who Is Maya Kowalski?

Maya Kowalski grew up in Florida with her parents, Beata and Jack, and her younger brother, Kyle. In 2015, she began experiencing debilitating pain that curled her feet and made walking nearly impossible. Asthma attacks, severe headaches and unusual lesions led some doctors to question the cause of her symptoms.

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What Medical Condition Does Maya Have?

Maya was officially diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a condition that causes burning pain, hypersensitivity and nerve dysfunction. Dr. Anthony Kirkpatrick, a Tampa-based specialist, explained that CRPS stems from abnormal functioning in the sympathetic nervous system, intensifying the body’s pain signals.

Kirkpatrick noted that ketamine infusion therapy — though experimental — can help reduce elevated glutamate levels in CRPS patients. After extensive research, Maya’s parents agreed to try monthly infusions, which improved her symptoms.

In November 2015, the family traveled to Mexico for a five-day “ketamine coma,” a highly experimental treatment intended to reset the nervous system. Maya later recalled feeling “amazing” afterward and continued receiving infusions when needed.

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Why Did the Hospital Raise Concerns?

In October 2016, Maya was admitted to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital with severe abdominal pain. Beata, a registered nurse, requested a high dose of ketamine based on past treatment success. Hospital staff, concerned about the high frequency and dosage of ketamine Maya had reportedly received, contacted the Department of Children and Families.

According to reporting by the Tampa Bay Times, hospital attorneys claimed that Maya had received 55 doses of ketamine over nine months — far exceeding typical FDA-approved amounts.

Hospital attorney Howard Hunter told the court that staff acted “out of reasonable caution” given the unusual treatment history. Another attorney, Ethen Shapiro, highlighted the risk of the ketamine coma procedure, calling it “extremely dangerous,” according to Fox 13 News.

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What Happened to Beata Kowalski?

Beata was accused of child abuse and Munchausen syndrome by proxy following her treatment requests. A psychological evaluation later determined she did not have the disorder, but Maya remained in state custody with extremely limited contact.

Maya vividly remembers the last time she saw her mother: “She kissed me on the forehead and said, ‘I love you. I’ll see you tomorrow.’ I never saw her again.” Maya described feeling trapped and abandoned.

During the forced separation, Beata became increasingly distressed and hopeless. She researched relentlessly, stopped eating and deteriorated emotionally. When a judge ruled she couldn’t hug Maya, Jack said the decision deeply devastated her.

After 87 days without seeing her daughter, Beata died by suicide in January 2017.

Maya later testified that she continually begged to speak to her parents but was told she had not asked for them — a claim she says was untrue and deeply upsetting.

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What Was the Outcome of the Legal Case?

In 2018, Jack Kowalski filed a $220 million lawsuit accusing the hospital of medical malpractice, false imprisonment and inflicting emotional distress. Maya testified that she was isolated, denied the ability to speak Polish to her mother, and even prevented from praying with her. She said the hospital accused Beata of tampering with religious items — allegations she denied.

The hospital issued a statement saying staff are required to report suspected abuse and that investigations are carried out by child welfare authorities, not by the hospital itself.

In November 2023, the court found the hospital liable for multiple claims, including false imprisonment, emotional distress and contributing to Beata’s death. The family was awarded more than $211 million.

In August 2024, the hospital appealed. In October 2025, the appeals court overturned the verdict, ruling that the hospital acted in good faith in its child protection procedures.

Despite the setback, family attorney Nick Whitney said the Kowalskis plan to continue their fight for accountability.

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Where Is Maya Now?

Five days after her mother’s death, Maya was released into her father’s care. Without ketamine treatments, her condition worsened, and it took more than a year for her to regain the ability to walk on her own.

Today, Maya can walk but still faces painful CRPS flare-ups. She remains determined to live fully despite the challenges: “I want to make the most of life now.”

She has also become an advocate for others facing similar situations. Speaking to NewsNation, Maya expressed her desire to help those who feel voiceless. Her story — and the Kowalski family’s fight — gained widespread visibility through the Netflix documentary Take Care of Maya, released in 2023.