A HEARTBREAKING PLEA: “I never imagined I’d have to beg the whole world like this…” — Maya Gebala’s mother, choked with emotion, stands beside her daughter’s bed in the Vancouver ICU, where she remains motionless after her heroic act of locking the Tumbler Ridge library door. Her left limbs twitch slightly, and a faint cough brings a glimmer of hope, but severe brain damage means doctors dare not make any promises… the details her mother just posted about this “miracle moment” will make you cry uncontrollably 👇
A Heartbreaking Plea: “I Never Imagined I’d Have to Beg the Whole World Like This…” – The Ongoing Fight for Maya Gebala’s Life After Tumbler Ridge Tragedy
In the sterile hush of the intensive care unit at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, Cia Edmonds stands vigil beside her 12-year-old daughter, Maya Gebala, her voice trembling as she shares a raw, emotional update with the world. “I never imagined I’d have to beg the whole world like this,” she confessed in a recent post, her words laced with desperation and unyielding love. Maya, the young girl hailed as a hero for her brave attempt to lock the library door during the deadly Tumbler Ridge school shooting on February 10, 2026, remains motionless for much of the time, her body bearing the scars of severe gunshot wounds to the head and neck. Yet, amid the profound pain, there are fragile signs of life: slight twitches in her left limbs, a faint cough that sparks a “miracle moment,” and incremental progress that keeps her family clinging to hope. Doctors, however, remain cautious, warning of severe brain damage and refusing to make promises about her future. This is the story of a mother’s plea, a community’s grief, and a child’s indomitable spirit in the face of unimaginable horror.
The tragedy unfolded in the remote northeastern British Columbia town of Tumbler Ridge, a community of about 2,000 residents known for its rugged beauty, dinosaur fossils, and tight-knit bonds forged in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. On that fateful Tuesday afternoon, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar allegedly began a rampage that would claim nine lives, including her own. It started at home, where she fatally shot her mother, Jennifer Strang, and her 11-year-old half-brother. Armed with firearms, she then drove to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where she targeted the library, a place filled with Grade 7 students during what should have been a routine school day.
Inside the library, panic erupted as the sound of gunshots pierced the air. Students and staff scrambled to follow lockdown protocols, barricading doors with desks and chairs. Amid the chaos, 12-year-old Maya Gebala displayed courage far beyond her years. Witnesses and family accounts describe how she rushed toward the door in an attempt to secure it, trying to prevent the shooter from entering and endangering her classmates. The door’s lock was reportedly malfunctioning, forcing her to improvise. “She didn’t run to hide; she ran to protect,” her mother later recounted, her voice breaking with pride and sorrow. In those critical moments, Maya’s actions likely saved lives, but they came at a tremendous cost. She was struck by bullets that penetrated her head and neck, leaving her critically injured on the library floor.
The shooter continued her assault, killing five children—Able Mwansa, Kylie Smith, Zoey Benoit, Ticaria Lampert (all 12), and 13-year-old Ezekiel Schofield—along with 39-year-old education assistant Shannda Aviugana-Durand. Another victim was discovered in a stairwell. Police arrived within minutes, but the damage was done. Van Rootselaar took her own life as officers approached, ending the nightmare but leaving a town shattered. In total, eight others were killed before her suicide, marking one of Canada’s deadliest school shootings in recent history.
Maya was airlifted to BC Children’s Hospital, where medical teams fought to stabilize her. Initial reports were grim: she was placed in a medically induced coma to combat brain swelling and internal bleeding. Bullet fragments and debris remain lodged in her body, complicating her recovery. Doctors initially prepared the family for the worst, even broaching the topic of organ donation as her vital signs faltered. “What felt like a shred of hope feels as fragile as life itself,” wrote Maya’s cousin, Krysta Hunt, in the early days on the family’s GoFundMe page, which has since raised over $420,000 to cover medical expenses, travel, and support for Cia and Maya’s father, David Gebala.
As days turned into a week, small miracles began to emerge. In updates shared by Cia on social media and through family channels, Maya showed signs of responsiveness. By February 15—Day 5 post-shooting—her left side began moving more noticeably: her arm and leg lifting against gravity, a twitch here, a deliberate shift there. “She’s moving quite a bit more on her left side. No movement on her right,” Cia posted, her words a mix of elation and fear. Then came the “miracle moment” that brought tears to many: a faint cough, signaling her body’s attempt to function independently. Coupled with slight eye flutters and occasional breath initiations—where Maya tries to breathe on her own despite still relying on a ventilator—these developments shifted her status from end-of-life considerations to intensive care.
Yet, the road ahead is fraught with uncertainty. Severe brain damage from the bullet’s path—entering and exiting the left side, tearing through tissue and affecting the brainstem—means doctors are hesitant to predict outcomes. “There’s significant damage to the left side of her brain… It’s hard to say how much response and deliberate function she will be able to regain,” Cia shared in a heartfelt update. Maya’s eyes, while fluttering and seemingly tracking her mother’s voice during foot massages, do not yet react to light, raising concerns about vision and neurological function. Fluid buildup in her lungs poses ongoing risks, and the possibility of her heart stopping or progress plateauing looms large. Cleared for a feeding tube, she’s no longer at immediate risk of passing, but recovery won’t be linear. “There are still many fears… She may just stop progressing, and this is it,” Cia admitted, her plea echoing the heartbreak of a parent thrust into an unthinkable reality.
Cia’s messages have resonated deeply, drawing support from across Canada and beyond. In one particularly emotional post on February 17, she described standing at the foot of Maya’s bed, massaging her feet and feeling as though her daughter’s eyes followed her voice. “My baby is in there… but how much is left? Time will only tell. My sweet Maya, I miss you. To the moon, and all the stars in the sky,” she wrote, a reference to her affectionate nickname for Maya, “Maya Moon.” This vulnerability has humanized the tragedy, turning Maya into a symbol of resilience. David Gebala, Maya’s father, has echoed this hope, noting in interviews that they’re encouraged by the small movements, even as doctors emphasize she’s still fighting for her life.
The family’s ordeal highlights the broader impact of the shooting on Tumbler Ridge. A town built on coal mining and now transitioning to tourism, it prides itself on community spirit. Maya, an active child who loved hockey and outdoor adventures, embodied that vibrancy. Her parents, Cia and David, have roots in the area, with Cia expressing compassion even for the shooter’s family. “They’re victims too,” she said of the shooter’s surviving siblings, urging support for them amid the grief. Fundraising efforts have extended beyond Maya; a GoFundMe for the shooter’s younger siblings has been launched, recognizing the ripple effects of trauma.
Community responses have been profound. Vigils in Tumbler Ridge and beyond, including in Langley where one victim, Zoey Benoit, once lived, have drawn crowds lighting candles and sharing stories. Churches held extended services on February 15, incorporating memorials and prayers. Survivors like 19-year-old Paige Hoekstra, shot in the chest, are on the mend—doctors cleared her to return home by February 16—while 12-year-old Maddy Mansky shared her harrowing account of hiding in a bathroom for two hours. The school remains closed, with counseling services ramped up to address the collective PTSD.
Nationally, the incident has reignited debates on gun control, mental health in rural areas, and school safety. Canada, with stricter firearm laws than the U.S., still grapples with such violence, as seen in past events like the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre. Questions swirl around how Van Rootselaar accessed weapons and her mental state, with investigations ongoing by the RCMP and Independent Investigations Office. Advocates call for enhanced resources in isolated communities like Tumbler Ridge, where access to mental health support can be limited.
For the Gebalas, faith and global support fuel their endurance. Cia’s pleas—”We cannot stop now, we have so far to go yet”—have inspired hashtags like #PrayForMaya and #TumblerStrong, trending on social media. Strangers send messages of encouragement, artwork, and donations. “I believe that positive energy and prayer has helped her rise above the imminent and dire initial expectations,” Cia wrote, choking back emotion in video updates.
As of February 18, 2026, Maya’s sedation is fully off, allowing short “awake” bursts. Her left side shows more strength, breathing support is reduced, and swelling continues to subside, though the bullet in her neck is monitored without surgery. Doctors describe her as “stubborn,” a trait her family cherishes. Yet, the right-side paralysis and brainstem damage cast long shadows. “This recovery won’t be linear,” Cia reminds supporters, her voice a beacon of raw honesty.
In this heartbreaking chapter, Maya’s story transcends tragedy—it’s a testament to heroism, maternal love, and communal solidarity. As Cia begs the world for continued prayers, one can’t help but cry at the “miracle moments” amid the pain. Maya Gebala, the brave girl who locked the door, now fights her toughest battle. The world watches, hopes, and prays she emerges victorious.
