Tumbler Ridge Shooting survivor Maya Gebala out of intensive care, father says
Maya Gebala, a survivor of the tumbler ridge shooting, is out of the intensive care unit, her father said in an update posted Tuesday. David Gebala said Monday marked a major step forward as the family moved from ICU into a recovery and rehab-focused unit. The 12-year-old has been in hospital since the Feb. 10 shooting in Tumbler Ridge that left eight people, including the shooter, dead.
Father describes a major step in the tumbler ridge shooting recovery
David Gebala wrote that it had been 26 hours since Maya’s EVD was removed for the second time. He said the team is now focused on recovery and rehabilitation, and that the signs so far have been encouraging.
He said Maya seems to be in less pain, with more energy and color returning to her complexion. He also noted that her movements are becoming more intentional, even as she continues trying to kick off a boot placed on her heel to protect a pressure sore.
Family says the progress brought a long-awaited moment
The biggest moment, David Gebala said, came when an occupational therapist and physiotherapist helped Maya sit up on the edge of the bed. He said that allowed him to wrap his arms around his daughter for the first time in a way that felt complete.
“This was huge for two reasons, ” he wrote. “First, she was using her own muscles to help support herself (with assistance), and second… I was finally able to wrap my arms around my daughter. Really wrap my arms around her and hold her tight. ” He added that he could not put into words what that hug felt like.
What the update means after the Tumbler Ridge shooting
The update gives a clearer picture of Maya’s condition more than a month after the tumbler ridge shooting. It also shows the family and medical team are now working through the slower phase of care, centered on movement, comfort and rehabilitation rather than intensive treatment.
No additional medical timeline was included in the family update, and no further details were given about the other victims. For now, the message from the family is straightforward: Maya is improving, and the next phase of recovery is underway after the tumbler ridge shooting.
