Family Shares Emotional Update: Maya Gebala Opened One Eye… Then Suddenly Needed Emergency Surgery

The family of 12-year-old Maya Gebala has shared an emotional update about her ongoing fight for survival following the tragic school shooting earlier this month. Just hours after relatives celebrated a small but hopeful milestone—Maya opening one eye and showing slight movement—her condition suddenly became more complicated, forcing doctors to perform emergency surgery to relieve pressure on her brain.

According to a social media post from her mother, Cia Edmonds, Maya underwent urgent surgery Saturday night after doctors detected signs of hydrocephalus, a dangerous condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the brain’s ventricles and increases intracranial pressure.

“Please keep her in your thoughts,” Edmonds wrote. “I truly believe the prayers and love have helped carry her this far.”

Fragile Signs of Hope

Earlier that day, the family shared a short video on Facebook showing Maya lying in her hospital bed. In the clip, one of her eyes is open while the other remains taped closed for medical protection following previous procedures.

The video was posted by Krysta Hunt, a cousin of Maya’s mother, who explained that Maya had begun responding with small movements on the right side of her body.

“Maya has opened her right eye and is responding,” Hunt wrote. “She’s moving her hand and leg on her right side. This is amazing progress.”

Hunt also expressed gratitude to the many people who have sent prayers, food, flowers, and financial support during the family’s difficult journey.

While these responses are still minimal, doctors often consider early movement and eye-opening significant neurological signs after severe traumatic brain injury.

Emergency Surgery After Sudden Complication

The hopeful moment quickly shifted when doctors noticed rising pressure in Maya’s brain caused by fluid accumulation. Maya is currently receiving treatment at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, where a specialized pediatric neurosurgical team is closely monitoring her condition.

Medical staff decided immediate surgical intervention was necessary to drain excess fluid and prevent further damage to brain tissue.

According to the family, doctors emphasized that controlling intracranial pressure is critical at this stage of recovery. If left untreated, hydrocephalus can lead to additional neurological complications or permanent damage.

Despite the setback, Maya’s parents say they remain hopeful because she has already overcome several life-threatening moments since being admitted.

The Ongoing Fight Since the Shooting

Maya, 12, has remained in intensive care since the Feb. 10 mass shooting at a secondary school in Tumbler Ridge, located in British Columbia.

Family members say Maya was in the school library when the shooting began and was attempting to help secure the room to protect her classmates. During the chaos, she suffered gunshot wounds to the head and neck that caused severe neurological trauma.

She was airlifted to Vancouver in critical condition and placed into a medically induced coma while doctors performed multiple surgeries to control bleeding and swelling in her brain.

In the first hours after the incident, physicians warned the family that Maya’s chances of survival were extremely low. However, in the days that followed, she began showing small but meaningful neurological responses.

Small Milestones That Matter

In a previous update, Maya’s father, David Gebala, shared that doctors had reduced ventilator support because Maya had started taking some breaths on her own—an encouraging milestone in neurological recovery.

“You continue to show us how strong and determined you are,” he wrote in a message dedicated to his daughter. “We were told we might only have hours, yet you are still here, still fighting.”

Medical experts note that the ability to initiate breathing independently often indicates partial recovery of brainstem function, though long-term outcomes remain uncertain.

Community Support Continues to Grow

Maya’s family has been providing updates through social media and through a fundraising page on GoFundMe. Thousands of supporters from across the country have contributed messages of encouragement and financial assistance to help cover the extended costs of treatment and recovery.

Local residents have also organized prayer vigils and memorial gatherings for all victims affected by the tragedy. Flowers, candles, and handwritten notes continue to appear outside the school, reflecting the deep emotional impact on the community.

Meanwhile, the family of another victim, Kylie Smith, reported they had to postpone a planned celebration of life ceremony after receiving safety threats, adding another layer of grief for families already coping with devastating loss.

A Long Road Ahead

Although Maya has shown encouraging signs such as eye movement and limited physical responses, her condition remains critical. Complications like hydrocephalus highlight the unpredictable and complex nature of severe brain trauma.

Her family says they are focusing on each small step forward rather than trying to predict the future.

Their message remains simple: share accurate information, avoid spreading rumors, and continue sending strength and prayers as Maya’s fight continues—moment by moment—in the intensive care unit.