“THE BRAVEST PERSON I KNOW”: 13-YEAR-OLD SCHOOL śh́óóting SURVIVOR MAYA GEBALA FINALLY RETURNS HOME AFTER 262 DAYS IN HOSPITAL
After being shot three times and suffering devastating brain injuries in the February 2026 Tumbler Ridge school śh́óóting, Maya Gebala has reached a milestone her family once feared might never come.
A heartbreaking story of survival is turning into a moment of hope for a family and a community in British Columbia, Canada.
Maya Gebala, who was just 12 years old when she was critically wounded in the February 10, 2026, mass śh́óóting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, has finally been released from BC Children’s Hospital after spending 262 days receiving intensive medical treatment and rehabilitation.
Her father, David Gebala, announced the emotional news on October 29, sharing a deeply moving tribute to his daughter and the extraordinary fight she has endured.
For the family, the announcement represented far more than the end of a hospital stay. It marked a moment they had once struggled to imagine.
A NIGHT HER FAMILY WAS TOLD SHE MIGHT NOT SURVIVE
On February 10, a devastating śh́óóting shook the small community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia.
The attack claimed the lives of eight victims, in addition to the šhσσtєr, and left numerous others injured.
Maya was among those seriously wounded. She was shot three times and sustained catastrophic injuries, including severe brain trauma.
She was airlifted to BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, where medical teams worked urgently to save her life.
The days that followed were filled with uncertainty. Her father later recalled the words doctors had delivered to the family: they had done everything they could, but they did not believe Maya would survive the night.
Yet her family refused to give up hope.
FIVE SURGERIES AND A LONG FIGHT TO RECOVER
Maya’s road to recovery was anything but easy.
During her prolonged hospital stay, she underwent at least five surgeries to address the devastating injuries caused by the śh́óóting. Her treatment included complex procedures involving her skull, eventually allowing doctors to place a prosthetic skull implant.
There were frightening complications and difficult setbacks along the way.
But there were also small victories that became enormous moments for her loved ones.
According to her father, 251 days after the attack, Maya opened one eye, moved it and shifted her leg. Although she subsequently required emergency surgery for hydrocephalus, the moment represented another sign of progress.
At 238 days, she was taken off her breathing tube and breathed independently for the first time.
At 230 days, she was able to feel the sunshine on her face again.
After months of waiting, her family also experienced the joy of holding her close. David recalled embracing his daughter for the first time since leaving for work on the morning of the attack.
Then came another unforgettable milestone.
HER FIRST SMILE AND THE RETURN OF HER VOICE
Maya gradually began reconnecting with the world around her.
At 145 days into her recovery, she intentionally smiled for the first time while playing a game of thumb war with her father.
Five days later, David was able to wheel his daughter outside the hospital grounds for the first time.
Her progress continued in the months that followed. Maya began communicating with the help of a tablet, learning to respond to questions using yes-and-no buttons and assistive communication applications.
In September, her mother, Cia Edmonds, shared an emotional video of Maya speaking again. Her first word was reportedly “Mom.”
For a family that had spent months hoping to hear her voice, it was an extraordinary moment.
Maya also celebrated her 13th birthday in September with a special outing to a Foo Fighters concert, another reminder that life beyond the hospital walls was gradually becoming possible again.
AFTER 262 DAYS, SHE IS FINALLY GOING HOME
On October 29, David shared the news the family had been waiting for: Maya was finally being discharged from BC Children’s Hospital.
In an emotional social media update, he counted the 262 days since his daughter had been airlifted to Vancouver and reflected on everything she had overcome.
“There was never a day I stopped believing we would get here,” he wrote.
He acknowledged that the road ahead would remain long, but described her discharge as a milestone that once seemed almost impossible.
“Maya, you are the bravest person I know. You are an inspiration to so many people. Giving up was never an option for me, and it clearly never was for you either.”
David also expressed his gratitude to the doctors, nurses and therapists who had supported Maya throughout her treatment, as well as everyone who had stood beside the family during the most difficult months of their lives.
“Now it’s time to leave these hospital walls behind and keep moving forward, Maya Bear,” he wrote.
“I love you forever and always.”
A NEW CHAPTER, WITH MORE HEALING AHEAD
Although leaving the hospital is an extraordinary achievement, Maya’s recovery is not over.
The physical and neurological challenges caused by her injuries mean that continued rehabilitation, medical care and support will remain important parts of her journey.
Still, after 262 days of surgeries, setbacks, uncertainty and determination, she is finally able to return home to begin this next chapter surrounded by her family.
Her story is a powerful reminder of the strength of a child, the devotion of a parent and the importance of never losing hope, even when the future seems uncertain.
For David, the little girl who was once fighting simply to survive has become an inspiration to countless people.
Welcome home, Maya. May the days ahead bring you more smiles, more beautiful milestones and all the happiness you deserve.
