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Entertainment • Documentary

Take Care of Maya

Take Care of Maya is a 2023 American documentary film directed by Henry Roosevelt about the Kowalski family and the medical and legal disputes surrounding their daughter Maya Kowalski.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Take Care of Maya is a 2023 American documentary film directed by Henry Roosevelt about the Kowalski family and the medical and legal disputes surrounding their daughter Maya Kowalski. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was released on Netflix in June 2023. It examines a case involving child welfare authorities, a Florida hospital, and allegations of medical child abuse.

Premise

The film follows the Kowalski family after Maya is admitted to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in Florida with severe pain related to a rare condition. Medical staff, child welfare authorities, and the family become involved in a highly contested case that ultimately leads to legal action.

Background

Take Care of Maya is based on real events involving Maya Kowalski, who was reported to have complex regional pain syndrome. The documentary covers the family's account of hospital treatment, custody issues, and the wider impact on their lives.

Release and reception

The documentary premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 10, 2023, and was released on Netflix on June 19, 2023. It received award recognition, including two 2024 News and Documentary Emmy nominations.

The story includes the family's civil case against Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Reports from the time of the documentary’s release note that the dispute extended beyond the hospital stay into court proceedings and public debate.

Key facts

  • The film is a documentary, not a fictional drama.
  • It focuses on Maya Kowalski, a Florida child with a chronic pain condition, and the dispute that followed her hospitalization.
  • The story includes allegations of medical child abuse, state custody, and a later civil lawsuit involving Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.
  • The documentary premiered at Tribeca in June 2023 and began streaming on Netflix shortly afterward.
  • It was nominated for two News and Documentary Emmy Awards in 2024.
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Canadian context

Canadian readers may know the film through Netflix’s international catalog and the broader discussion it generated about pediatric medicine, child welfare, and medical-legal ethics.

Frequently asked questions

What is Take Care of Maya about?
It is about the Kowalski family’s experience after Maya Kowalski was hospitalized in Florida, leading to accusations of medical child abuse, state custody concerns, and later legal disputes.
Where is Maya Kowalski now?
The search results provided do not give a verified current location or status for Maya Kowalski.
What happened to Maya Kowalski?
According to the documentary and related coverage, Maya was hospitalized for a rare pain condition, separated from her parents during a custody dispute, and became central to a later lawsuit involving the hospital.
Is Take Care of Maya a true story?
Yes. It is a documentary based on real events involving Maya Kowalski and her family.
How to watch Take Care of Maya?
It is available to stream on Netflix.
What hospital was involved in Take Care of Maya?
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, was the hospital involved.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_Care_of_Maya
    Supports: Film identification, director, release dates, Emmy nominations, and general subject matter.
  2. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/81349305
    Supports: Streaming availability and synopsis.
  3. Netflix Tudum — https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/take-care-of-maya-release-date-news
    Supports: Premise, release timing, and family case overview.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27542448/
    Supports: Synopsis and runtime context.
  5. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/take_care_of_maya
    Supports: Synopsis and runtime context.