🚨 MIRACLE MIXED WITH PURE TERROR: They just pulled the breathing tube out of 12-year-old Maya Gebala… to see if this brave little hero can fight to breathe on her own. 😱💔🌟

Her mom held her hand tight as the moment came. Maya winced in pain. The room froze. Everyone watching her chest rise… or not. What happened in those heart-stopping seconds? The fear, the hope, the raw agony her family felt watching their “Maya moon” battle for every breath after being shot in the head protecting her classmates…

Maya — the 12-year-old warrior who survived a nightmare school shooting in Tumbler Ridge — is showing incredible signs: moving her left side, eyes open, responding… but this breathing tube removal? Her mom called it “what a terrifying experience.” And it was.

The full chilling details straight from her parents’ own words, the latest hospital photos that will wreck you, how the world rallied with prayers and donations, and why doctors say it’s still a long, hard road ahead…

Full details:

Twelve-year-old Maya Gebala, who was critically injured in a February mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, has had her breathing tube removed as doctors test whether she can breathe independently, her family reported in recent social media updates.

Maya’s mother, Cia Edmonds, posted on Facebook that the procedure occurred recently, describing it as “what a terrifying experience” for the family. She wrote that she held her daughter’s hand during the moment, noting that Maya winced as the tube was taken out. The post highlighted the emotional intensity of watching to see if the young girl could sustain her own breathing after weeks on a ventilator following severe gunshot wounds to the head and neck.

Maya’s father, David Gebala, added in related updates that his daughter has shown “incredible improvement” and has been “fairly active,” including movement on the left side of her body. Family statements indicate she is responding more, with previous posts mentioning her opening her eyes, moving her hand, and showing responsiveness despite ongoing challenges.

The developments come amid Maya’s recovery at B.C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, where she was airlifted after the Feb. 10, 2026, shooting that killed eight people, including the shooter, and injured others. Maya was described by family as a hero who attempted to protect classmates by locking a library door during the attack, sustaining life-threatening injuries in the process.

Doctors have compared aspects of her brain injuries to those seen in stroke patients, warning of potential long-term limitations in movement, particularly on her right side. Earlier updates noted complications such as hydrocephalus, requiring emergency surgery to drain excess fluid from her brain. A shunt or drain was placed, and family members reported the procedure as successful.

Progress has included gradual reductions in ventilator support. Prior to the tube removal, updates indicated the ventilator pressure was lowered because Maya was beginning to take breaths on her own. The family has emphasized these steps as significant milestones in shifting from critical stabilization to a longer recovery phase.

A GoFundMe campaign set up to support Maya’s medical needs and family expenses has raised substantial funds, with reports indicating nearly $450,000 from thousands of donors worldwide. The page, titled “Support for Maya in Her Road to Recovery,” includes regular family updates, photos of Maya before and during hospitalization, and expressions of gratitude for the global outpouring of support.

In one post, Edmonds referred to her daughter as “my Maya moon” and acknowledged the difficult path ahead, noting remaining issues such as bullet fragments in her brain and ongoing swelling concerns in earlier stages. However, recent messages have focused on positive signs, with family describing Maya as a “brave little warrior” holding strong through each hurdle.

The shooting in the remote northeast British Columbia community of Tumbler Ridge shocked Canada. The suspect, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, reportedly killed family members at home before heading to the school, where the attack unfolded. Authorities confirmed the shooter died by suicide.

Community and national response has included vigils, statements from officials, and widespread media coverage. Maya’s story, shared extensively through her parents’ Facebook posts, has drawn particular attention due to the personal, real-time nature of the updates.

Medical experts note that removing a breathing tube, known as extubation, is a critical step in recovery for ventilated patients but carries risks, especially in cases involving neurological trauma. Success depends on factors like lung function, neurological status, and overall stability. In Maya’s case, family reports suggest she has tolerated the change, though full details on her current respiratory status have not been publicly specified beyond the initial removal.

As of the latest family posts, Maya remains under close monitoring at the pediatric hospital. Her parents continue to post updates, sharing moments like her watching television and showing small signs of engagement.

The case highlights the long-term impacts of severe brain injuries from gunshot wounds, including potential needs for rehabilitation, therapy, and adaptive support. Family members have expressed cautious optimism while stressing that recovery will be prolonged.

Support continues to pour in via the GoFundMe and social media, with strangers and community members offering prayers, messages, and donations. Officials and medical staff at B.C. Children’s Hospital have not released official statements on her condition due to privacy concerns, leaving family social media as the primary source of information.

This ongoing story serves as a reminder of the profound effects of gun violence on young victims and their families, as well as the resilience shown in the face of tragedy. As Maya progresses, her family’s updates reflect both heartbreak and hope amid an uncertain road forward.