12-year-old Maya Gebala off ventilator, moving and responding; family shares hopeful updates from B.C. Children’s Hospital after Tumbler Ridge tragedy.
Maya Gebala Off Ventilator, Making Steady Gains
Maya Gebala, the 12-year-old survivor of the Tumbler Ridge shooting, is showing remarkable signs of recovery, her parents say. After being critically injured in the tragic February attack, Maya has now been taken off the ventilator, a milestone her family described as both frightening and hopeful.
“Sweet baby,” her mother, Cia Edmonds, shared on Facebook. “She had her breathing tube removed to see if she can breathe on her own … what a terrifying experience.”
Despite the trauma, Maya’s resilience is shining through. “I held her hand while she winced, but she’s doing great,” Cia added. “My sweet girl is looking more like her beautiful self today.”
Slow but Steady Recovery
Maya was shot twice during the attack — once in the neck and once in the head — by 18-year-old shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar. She was among two students airlifted to B.C. Children’s Hospital after the incident left nine people dead and 27 others injured.
Her father, David Gebala, painted a hopeful picture of her progress: “She’s been fairly active, moving the left side of her body, and she even pushed herself up using the foot of the bed. The surgeon showed us her latest CT scans last night, and they are some of the clearest we’ve seen yet. What an incredible improvement from the earlier ones.”
Small Wins Mean the World
Recovery is slow, but every small sign of progress is a victory. David shared that Maya has occasionally moved her right arm and leg and that her left eye is now responding to light. “It might seem little but it’s a lot for her! And huge for all of us,” he said.
The family remains cautiously optimistic, taking each day step by step. “Step by step. Day by day. We will get there,” David wrote, emphasizing the patience and perseverance required on this long road to healing.
Maya’s story is a testament to strength, hope, and the small yet significant victories that mark the path toward recovery.
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