In the tiny, тιԍнт-knit mountain town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia – population just 2,400 – February 10, 2026, started like any ordinary Tuesday. Kids bundled up against the winter chill, heading to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School for classes, laughter echoing in hallways, dreams of hockey games and weekend adventures.
No one could have imagined the nightmare that unfolded.
An 18-year-old local, Jesse Van Rootselaar, first took the lives of her mother and 11-year-old half-brother at home. Then, armed with two firearms, she entered the school and unleashed terror, killing five students and one education ᴀssistant before turning the gun on herself. Eight lives lost. Twenty-seven injured. A community shattered.
Among the wounded? Brave 12-year-old Maya Gebala – sH๏τ multiple times in the head and neck while desperately trying to protect her classmates by locking a library door.
What began as an unthinkable tragedy quickly morphed into a tense, emotionally charged battle for survival that has gripped the nation. Doctors initially warned Maya’s family she might not make it through the night. Then came glimmers of hope – miraculous signs that had everyone daring to believe in a miracle.
But in a cruel twist, progress vanished in hours. Life-threatening complications struck, plunging Maya back into emergency surgery and her loved ones into fresh agony.
This isn’t just a story of survival. It’s a moment-to-moment vigil – hope one hour, fear the next – defined by a little girl’s incredible resilience and a family’s unbreakable love amid unimaginable grief.
The Day Everything Changed: A Heroic Act in the Midst of Horror
Maya Gebala – outgoing, sporty, a pᴀssionate ice hockey fan – was in the library when chaos erupted around 2:20 p.m.
Gunfire rang out. Students and staff fled or hid. Maya, with the instincts of someone far beyond her years, rushed to secure a door, shielding others from the shooter.
It cost her dearly.
Multiple bullets struck her head and neck. She collapsed. First responders rushed her to stabilization before she was airlifted to BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver – hundreds of miles away – in critical condition.
Her mother, Cia Edmonds, and father, David Gebala, raced to her side. In those first terrifying hours, doctors delivered the devastating news: severe brain and neck trauma. Survival odds slim. Prepare for the worst.
Yet Maya fought.
The Miracles That Kept Hope Alive
In the days following, updates from Cia on social media and a GoFundMe page became a lifeline for thousands.
First came the small victories that felt monumental:
- Maya opened her right eye.
- She moved her hand.
- She shifted her leg.
“Amazing progress,” her mum posted. “My baby is in there.”
The family described her as “strong, brave, far more powerful than anyone expected.” Doctors moved her from “goodbyes” to “recovery” phase – a shift that brought tears of relief.
Community rallies poured in. Hockey teams honoured her. Strangers donated. Prayers flooded from across Canada and beyond.
One father of a slain child even met David Gebala at the hospital, offering encouragement in their shared pain.
Maya’s story became a beacon – proof that even in darkness, light can flicker.
Then, the Devastating Reversal: From Hope to Emergency Surgery
But brain injuries are mercilessly unpredictable.
A dangerous buildup of fluid – hydrocephalus – caused intracranial pressure to spike. Swelling threatened everything.
In a gut-wrenching turn, doctors rushed Maya into emergency brain surgery to relieve the pressure.
Cia’s urgent Facebook post hit like a thunderbolt: “Maya was being taken into emergency surgery right now.”
No further details. Just raw fear.
The post spread like wildfire. Supporters held their breath. Hours ticked by in agonizing silence.
Doctors remained cautious: recovery would take days, weeks. Continued sedation, ventilation, monitoring. Complications like infection or further swelling loomed.
Survival after multiple gunsH๏τ wounds to the head and neck is rare. Maya’s fight is extraordinary – but fragile.
A Family’s Raw Grief and Unwavering Strength
Cia and David have been pillars through it all.
Cia shares updates with heartbreaking honesty: “The gravity of what’s happened has finally sunk in.” She admits moments of hope mixed with terror – wondering how much of her daughter remains.
David calls her “Maya Bear” – strong, brave. He met another grieving father, finding solace in shared encouragement.
They’ve urged support for Tumbler Ridge – a town reeling from loss. Amid their pain, they’ve shown compᴀssion, even for the shooter’s family.
A stolen paddleboard and golf clubs from their truck? A minor theft amid major tragedy – but Cia thanked supporters anyway.
Their GoFundMe swells with donations and messages: “Praying for Maya.” “You’re not alone.”
The Community That Won’t Let Go
Tumbler Ridge – a remote coal-mining town in the Rockies – has been forever changed.
Eight ᴅᴇᴀᴅ: five children (including 12-year-olds Kylie Smith and others), one educator, the shooter’s mother and brother.
Survivors like 19-year-old Paige Hoekstra (sH๏τ in the chest) have headed home. Others recover.
But Maya remains the focus – her heroism in protecting classmates etched into hearts.
Hockey communities rally. Strangers send love. The nation watches, prays.
RCMP investigations continue: autopsies complete, scenes processed, interviews ongoing.
Questions linger: How could this happen in such a small place? What signs were missed?
For now, the focus is Maya – moment-to-moment.
Why Maya’s Story Touches Us All
In tragedies like this, survival isn’t a headline – it’s a brutal, beautiful fight.
Maya’s journey – from miracle signs to emergency reversals – captures the fragility of life. A 12-year-old who shielded others now needs the world to shield her.
Her family’s openness – sharing joy and terror – reminds us grief isn’t private. It’s shared.
As Canada grapples with yet another school shooting (rare here, but devastating), Maya’s resilience shines.
She’s not just fighting for her life. She’s reminding us of courage in innocence.
Prayers continue. Updates awaited.
Maya Gebala: a little girl who became a hero.
Her battle isn’t over.
But neither is hope.