TUMBLER RIDGE, BRITISH COLUMBIA — A 13-year-old school shooting survivor who spent more than eight months fighting through severe injuries has reached two major milestones within days of each other. Maya Gebala has finally left the hospital after 262 days of treatment and has now been selected for an international youth heroism award.
Her journey began on February 10, 2026, when a gunman opened fire at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia. Maya was just 12 years old at the time. She was among those caught in the attack, which left eight people dead and several others injured.
The shooter was identified as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, who killed six people at the school and two family members at a nearby residence before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The attack sent shockwaves through the small Canadian community and left several families facing an unimaginable loss.
Maya was shot three times and suffered severe brain injuries. Emergency crews airlifted her to BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, where doctors initially feared she would not survive the night. Her family was suddenly faced with the possibility of losing a child who had barely begun her teenage years.
But the days turned into weeks, and the weeks became months. Maya underwent multiple operations and faced a difficult recovery that required extensive medical care. Her family shared updates as she slowly regained some of the abilities the shooting had taken from her.
One of the first major signs of progress came when Maya opened her eye, moved it and shifted her leg. She later began breathing on her own after being taken off a ventilator. These developments were important moments for a family that had spent so long waiting for good news.
Her father, David Gebala, kept track of the milestones. He recalled the first time Maya intentionally smiled while they played thumb war. He also described the emotional moment he took her outside the hospital grounds for the first time. After 61 days without hearing her voice, he eventually heard his daughter speak again.
Even while undergoing treatment, Maya had moments away from the hospital. Her family celebrated her 13th birthday by taking her to a Foo Fighters concert. It was a welcome break from the medical routine that had controlled much of her life since the shooting.
On October 29, David announced that Maya was finally being discharged after 262 days at BC Children’s Hospital. He shared a video of the moment he told her she was going home. Her reaction said plenty as she raised her fist in excitement.
In his message, David remembered the frightening words the family had heard when Maya first arrived at the hospital. Doctors had warned that she might not make it through the night. Now, after more than eight months, she was preparing to leave.
“There was never a day I stopped believing we would get here,” he wrote. He added that the road ahead remained long but described her discharge as a milestone nobody had been certain they would reach. He also called Maya the bravest person he knew.
David thanked the medical staff who cared for his daughter and the many people who supported the family during the difficult months. While her hospital stay had ended, her recovery would continue beyond those hospital walls.
Just five days after her discharge, another major announcement brought attention to Maya’s story. On November 3, the Youth Peace and Justice Foundation, also known as the Uvalde Foundation For Kids, announced that she had received its Youth Heroism Award.
The U.S.-based organization selected Maya in recognition of her courage during the school shooting and her determination throughout her recovery. The honor also made her the foundation’s first international recipient.
The foundation’s president, Daniel Chapin, said heroism should not be measured by someone’s age or whether they escaped an incident without injuries. He said Maya had faced a situation no young person should ever have to experience and deserved recognition for her courage.
The foundation was established following the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Its award recognizes young people who show courage, compassion, leadership or selfless action when others need help.
Maya’s recognition comes as her family begins another stage of life after the shooting. Leaving the hospital after 262 days is a major achievement, but it does not erase the injuries or the difficult months that came before it. For now, her family can celebrate a moment they once feared they would never see: Maya is finally home.