Tumbler Ridge School Shooting Survivor Maya Gebala Discharged from Hospital

Thirteen-year-old Maya Gebala, a survivor of the February school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, has finally been discharged from the hospital after 262 days of intensive medical care and multiple surgeries. Her father, David Gebala, shared the milestone on social media, detailing the lengthy and arduous journey his daughter undertook since the tragic event.

The shooting occurred on February 10 at a secondary school in the northern mining town, claiming the lives of eight victims alongside the gunman and injuring dozens of others. Maya and another student, Paige Hoekstra, were airlifted to BC Children's Hospital in critical condition. Court documents later revealed that Maya was struck by three bullets, including one to the skull that left bone fragments in her brain, after she reportedly tried to lock a library door to protect her classmates.

Following the attack, medical staff initially gave the young girl little chance of survival. In a social media post chronicling her recovery, her father recalled the grim prognosis they received upon her arrival: "We did everything we could, but we don't think she's going to make it through the night." Despite the initial fears, Maya slowly achieved a series of critical medical milestones over the subsequent months.

Her recovery involved numerous complex procedures, including five surgeries. In May, she underwent a cranioplasty to receive an artificial barrier designed to alleviate severe head swelling and skull damage. Her treatment also involved managing complications such as hydrocephalus, which required emergency interventions, alongside a series of gradual steps toward regaining basic functions.

Family updates tracked her progress meticulously, noting when she first opened her eyes, successfully breathed on her own, and eventually felt the sun on her face again. Months into her hospital stay, she reached emotional and physical turning points, such as sharing a hug with her father for the first time since the shooting, smiling intentionally during a game, and leaving hospital grounds in a wheelchair. Just weeks prior to her release, she celebrated her 13th birthday by attending a Foo Fighters concert.

A video shared by her family showed an emotional moment as Maya learned she was finally cleared to leave, reacting with a triumphant fist pump. While the road ahead remains long, her family expressed profound gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and therapists who supported them throughout the ordeal, marking an emotional conclusion to a harrowing chapter for the small community.