Featured Image Credit: Netflix/Instagram/syesha
Topics: Netflix, American Idol, Parenting
Ben Thompson
Since the documentary Take Care of Maya landed on Netflix, it's made a massive impact, with viewers who have branded it the 'most gut-wrenching thing' they've watched.
The film follows the story of Jack and Beata Kowalski's daughter Maya, who suddenly began suffering from a mysterious condition that left her in agony.
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For no apparent reason, the young girl's feet began to turn inwards and her skin felt as if it was on fire.
After seeking professional help, in 2015, Maya was diagnosed with CRPS (Complex regional pain syndrome), with a doctor prescribing her ketamine.
But after she relapsed and her parents took her to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital a year later, Beata was accused of abuse.
Maya Kowalski, who is now 17, was placed under the custody of the state for three months after doctors accused her parents of faking the illness.
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Staff at the hospital claimed that Beata had a condition called Munchausen by proxy (MSP), which involves parents or guardians creating fictitious symptoms for fake illnesses.
A psychological evaluation found Beata did not have the illness. However, tragically, following the ordeal, Beata took her own life after leaving her family a heartbreaking final email.
But it turns out that these parents weren't the only ones who claim to have experienced such a stressful ordeal while their child received treatment at John Hopkins All Children's Hospital.
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American Idol finalist Syesha Mercado had two of her children removed from her custody in 2021 after they took their son to the hospital when he was suffering from dehydration.
The parents say this was due to him having trouble transitioning from breast milk to solid foods, but his assessment - carried out by Dr. Sally Smith, who also featured in the doc - in the hospital resulted in him being placed in child protective services.
Mercado said her other child was taken from her after a surprise welfare check on the side of the road, before being returned two weeks later.
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At the time, the 2008 reality TV contestant wrote: "Amen’Ra was forcefully and legally kidnapped from us by CPS, who claim we refused a B12 shot that was a matter of life and death, which is an absolute lie. We never refused a B12 shot, and at no point was he on the verge of death."
Mercado's son was returned to her eventually. "AMEN’RA IS OFFICIALLY HOME!!!" she captioned a video announcing the news to her followers.
“But, it’s not over with,” Mercado's partner, Tyron Deener, says in the video.
"He’s back, he’s with us, but we’ve got to deal with six months of supervision, of the state coming to our home every week for the next six months, to show that we’re competent and able to raise our own baby.”
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The Kowalski family are suing Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital for $55 million in compensatory and $165m in punitive damages.
The case has been lodged on behalf of the family by AndersonGlenn LLP, with a trial date set for September this year.
When contacted for comment, a spokesperson for John Hopkins All Children's Hospital said: "Our priority at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital is always the safety and privacy of our patients and their families. Therefore, we follow federal privacy laws that limit the amount of information we can release regarding any particular case.
"Our first responsibility is always to the child brought to us for care, and we are legally obligated to notify the Department of Children and Families (DCF) when we detect signs of possible abuse or neglect.
"It is DCF that investigates the situation and makes the ultimate decision about what course of action is in the best interest of the child."