Common Sense Media Review
By Sabrina McFarland
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Parents seek proper medical care for their child; language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Take Care of Maya
What's the Story?
TAKE CARE OF MAYA is a documentary that chronicles Jack and Beata Kowalski's actions to help the couple's daughter who is reportedly diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) at the age of 10. The parents, along with Maya's younger brother Kyle, provide emotional and physical support and also seek expert advice for her care. The Kowalskis, however, encounter conflict and power struggles among medical and legal professionals over the care for and treatment of Maya's disease, which can reportedly affect girls between the ages of 9 and 11 years old.
Is It Any Good?
Filmmaker Henry Roosevelt's film effectively zeroes in on one family's obstacles in this heartfelt documentary drama about determining the right healthcare for a child. Jack Kowalski, a dad and retired firefighter, says in Take Care of Maya that "we, as parents, try to do the best for our children." But their lives are faced with an unexpected turn with daughter Maya's reported diagnosis of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). There was nothing to prepare Kowalski, he says, "for what I went through with my family."
The Kowalskis's journey also serves, in part, as a catalyst for other families in a 2019 investigative article by child welfare reporter Daphne Chen. "I knew that I had to take the story on and I knew I had to get it right," says Chen, who interviews individuals involved in the Kowalski case, shares the fact-based findings, and receives overwhelming reader reaction. Notes Chen, the family is not only fighting for themselves, but also for the reportedly thousands of others who have tried repeatedly "to bring awareness to this issue that has been shrouded in so much shame and secrecy."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the communication of the cast in Take Care of Maya. How do they also demonstrate compassion, courage, and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?
The Kowalskis seek various medical experts for answers for the care of Maya. Do you agree with their decision to do so? Why or why not?
What are your thoughts about the film's depiction of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and the medical and legal teams involved in the methods used for its treatment and in Maya's care?
In the documentary, Gregory Anderson, one of the Kowalski family attorneys, states that "it's perseverance that wins the day here." Do you agree or disagree, and why?
Families can also talk about suicide and the way it's addressed here. Note: If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or thoughts of suicide, information and resources are available at wannatalkaboutit.com.
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : June 19, 2023
- Cast : Maya Kowalski , Jack Kowalski , Daphne Chen
- Director : Henry Roosevelt
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : Activism , History
- Character Strengths : Communication , Compassion , Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 103 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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