After 262 days of intensive care, Maya Gebala, the 13‑year‑old who survived the February 10 school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, was discharged from British Columbia Children’s Hospital in Vancouver. Her father, David Gebala, shared an emotional post on Facebook, calling his daughter “the bravest person I know” and celebrating the milestone.
Road to recovery
Maya was shot three times, including a head wound that shattered part of her skull and caused catastrophic brain injuries. Since the attack, she has undergone five surgeries, including the placement of a prosthetic skull. Her father highlighted key moments: opening her eyes and moving her leg 251 days after the incident, receiving the prosthetic skull 179 days later, smiling for the first time 145 days after the shooting, and hearing her voice again 61 days ago.
Throughout the ordeal, Maya’s family posted regular updates, noting her progress and even a recent outing to see the Foo Fighters for her 13th birthday. The family’s perseverance reflects the strength of the small mining community in northern British Columbia.
Legal actions and AI controversy
In parallel with Maya’s recovery, her mother, Cia Edmonds, filed a criminal complaint against OpenAI, alleging the shooter, 18‑year‑old Jesse Van Rootselaar, used ChatGPT to plan the attack. The lawsuit is one of dozens in the United States and Canada targeting the tech company for alleged negligence. OpenAI maintains a “zero‑tolerance policy” for using its tools to facilitate violence and says it deactivated the shooter’s original account in June 2025, though a second account was later created.
U.S. authorities also arrested a Washington‑state resident accused of offering advice and money to the shooter before the massacre. The incident has reignited discussions about AI safety and the responsibility of technology firms.
Community response
The Tumbler Ridge community has rallied around Maya and other victims, offering support through local churches, volunteer groups, and counseling services. While the tragedy remains the deadliest school shooting in Canada in decades, Maya’s discharge provides a beacon of hope for families coping with loss and trauma.
As Maya begins the next chapter outside the hospital walls, her family expressed gratitude to the medical staff and emphasized the long road ahead, urging continued prayer and community support.
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
