😢❤️ SHE WAS ONLY 12 — MAYA GEBALA TRIED TO SECURE THE DOOR FOR HER CLASSMATES, THEN BEGAN A FIGHT TO RECOVER

On February 10, 2026, 12-year-old Maya Gebala was among the students caught in the tragic events at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia.

Maya, a Grade 7 student from Tumbler Ridge, had been in the school library with her classmates when they suddenly realized something was seriously wrong.

The students attempted to secure the library door.

But there was a frightening problem.

The lock was broken.

While other students began moving to places where they could hide, Maya remained near the door for a few additional seconds, trying to help secure it.

The door still would not lock.

Eventually, Maya joined her classmates beneath a table as they sought shelter.

What happened next left the young student with serious injuries.

💔 A DESPERATE RUSH FOR MEDICAL CARE

Maya suffered injuries above her left eye and to her neck, along with additional grazing injuries.

After the situation had pᴀssed, her classmates noticed something that gave them a reason to hope.

One of Maya’s fingers was moving. 🥹

Her classmates helped carry her out so she could receive urgent medical attention.

Maya was transported to BC Children’s Hospital, where medical teams worked to treat a brain bleed and stabilize her condition.

She was placed in a medically induced coma while remaining in critical condition.

For her family, friends and classmates, the hours that followed were filled with uncertainty.

A 12-year-old girl who had been sitting in a school library with her classmates was suddenly fighting through an extraordinarily difficult medical situation.

🙏 THEN CAME A REASON TO HOPE

Despite the seriousness of Maya’s condition, her family eventually received encouraging news.

Maya began showing signs of improvement. ❤️

For everyone waiting and hoping for her recovery, even small positive developments carried enormous meaning.

Her journey was — and remains — difficult, but those signs offered something her loved ones desperately needed:

hope.

Maya’s story has also highlighted the courage of a young student who, during an incredibly frightening moment, spent precious seconds trying to help secure a door before seeking shelter with her classmates.

At only 12 years old, she was thinking not only about herself, but about the students around her.

Now those same classmates, along with her family and community, are hoping Maya continues to improve.

🌈 ONE DAY AT A TIME

Recovery from a serious medical injury can be a long and uncertain process.

For Maya, every encouraging sign represents another step forward.

Her family and supporters continue to surround her with love and hope as she receives care at BC Children’s Hospital.

The tragedy at Tumbler Ridge has left a deep wound in the community, but Maya’s continued progress offers a small light during an incredibly painful time. ❤️

She is only 12.

There should be so much more ahead of her — more birthdays, more school days, more laughter with friends, and countless memories still waiting to be made.

For now, her loved ones are taking everything one moment at a time.

And every sign that Maya is getting stronger is something worth holding onto. 🙏🥹❤️

Please leave a ❤️ for Maya and send your thoughts and strength to her family, classmates and the entire Tumbler Ridge community.