In October 2016, 10-year-old Maya Kowalski was admitted to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital due to a flare-up of her rare chronic condition, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), have a look at her age and where is she now
She had been living with this condition for over a year. Maya’s parents, Beata and John Kowalski, consulted with Dr. Anthony Kirkpatrick, a CRPS specialist who recommended using ketamine, a potent general anesthetic, to help alleviate Maya’s pain.
In a bold move, Maya underwent an experimental “ketamine coma” which provided significant but temporary relief from her CRPS symptoms.
Who is Maya Kowalski of Take Care of Maya, age, mom, illness story and where is she now in 2023
Testimony ended with a bang in the #TakeCareofMayaTrial. #MayaKowalski addressed these photos her hanging out with friends while her attorney said she was having health issues due to the trial. #ClosingArguments are expected November 6.#CourtTV What do YOU think? ⚖️ pic.twitter.com/bbptml2e9k
— Court TV (@CourtTV) November 2, 2023
Dr. Sally smith should be in jail. She intentionally ruined families and had their children taken away for her ego “take care of Maya trial” kowalski v. John’s Hopkins. I hope the family wins the whole 250 million requested.. pic.twitter.com/e2Tq4oI64R
— 🇺🇸 prosecute fraud (@ProsecuteFraud) October 27, 2023
Maya Kowalski had grappled with her condition for more than a year by October 2016, according to The Cut. Her parents, Beata and John Kowalski sought the expertise of CRPS specialist Dr. Anthony Kirkpatrick who proposed using ketamine.
She underwent an experimental “ketamine coma” which brought about a significant but temporary reduction in her CRPS symptoms.
Yet, the medical team at All Children’s Hospital lacked familiarity with Maya’s diagnosis and began to question her parents’ decision to pursue ketamine treatments. Seeking an outside opinion, the hospital turned to Dr. Sally Smith, a physician specializing in child protective services who initiated an abuse investigation.
Unfortunately, Dr. Smith ultimately misdiagnosed Maya, attributing her symptoms to Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy.
Following the misdiagnosis, Maya endured a heartbreaking separation from her parents, enduring over 90 days of restricted contact. She was only permitted to see her father under stringent supervision while any interaction with her mother was entirely prohibited.
In January 2017, after enduring 87 days of separation from Maya, Beata tragically took her own life. In a final email to her family, she expressed that the pain had become too overwhelming.
According to the documentary, Maya never received a clear explanation for why she was unable to see her mother. Recalling a poignant moment, Maya shared with PEOPLE, “One day I was in the ICU, and my mom kissed me on the forehead and was like, ‘I love you. I’ll see you tomorrow.’ I never saw her again.”
Where is Maya Kowalski now?
At the age of 17, Maya Kowalski presently resides in Venice, Florida alongside her father, Jack, and her brother, Kyle. However, court mandates prevent the Kowalski family from pursuing further ketamine treatments.
Although over a year has passed since her release from All Children’s, Maya has managed to regain the use of her legs. Nevertheless, she continues to grapple with the challenges posed by CRPS.
The scheduled trial date for the Kowalski family’s lawsuit against Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital was September 11, 2023. Prior to this, the family reached a settlement with Dr. Sally Smith, who had wrongly diagnosed Maya with symptoms related to Munchausen’s by proxy. This misjudgment led to Maya’s separation from her parents. The settlement amount reached with Dr. Smith was $2.5 million.