Twelve-year-old Maya Gebala began her day like any other student at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School — focused on her education and future. Within hours, her life and the lives of many others were forever changed.

Now, the young girl is fighting for her life at Vancouver Children’s Hospital after being critically injured in one of Canada’s deadliest mass shootings in decades.

Her mother, Cia Edmonds, has remained at her daughter’s bedside, refusing to leave as doctors work to stabilize Maya.

Through emotional updates, she has asked the public to pray for her child’s survival while expressing grief for the many families devastated by the tragedy.

“This doesn’t feel real. Please pray for my baby,” Edmonds said.

Maya was more than a student — she was a dedicated and passionate hockey defender for the Tumbler Ridge Raptors under-13 team in the North East Recreational Hockey League.

Teammates and community members describe her as fearless on the ice, known for protecting her teammates and demonstrating determination well beyond her years.

During the shooting at her school, Maya sustained severe injuries and was urgently airlifted hundreds of miles to Vancouver for specialized pediatric care. Her family reports that physicians are still assessing the full extent of the trauma but confirmed she survived the critical emergency transport — an early sign of her resilience.

Edmonds recounted that the day had begun normally before descending into chaos.

“Today started as any other. Now my 12-year-old daughter is fighting for her life while doctors try to repair the damage from a gunshot wound to the head and another to the neck,” she said.

Family members echoed the anguish. Maya’s aunt, Marta Batten, said, “There are no words for the fear and pain our family is feeling in this moment.” A cousin has since organized a fundraising effort to help Maya’s mother take time away from work to remain at her daughter’s side throughout the recovery.

Despite the heartbreak, Edmonds also offered condolences to other grieving families.

“Our community is shattered. My heart bleeds for everyone trying to process this horrific string of events. Far too many are grieving already.”

Authorities say Maya was among more than two dozen students and staff wounded when a suspect opened fire at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School at approximately 1:20 p.m. Police reported that at least seven people were killed at the school, while two additional victims were found dead at a nearby residence believed to be connected to the attack. The suspect also died at the scene.

Law enforcement has not finalized all victim identifications, and officials continue to investigate the timeline, motive, and circumstances surrounding the violence.

Students who escaped described barricading themselves inside classrooms for hours, fearing the attacker might attempt to break through locked doors. Video from the scene later showed students exiting the building with their hands raised as police vehicles surrounded the campus and a helicopter circled overhead.

The secondary school, which serves roughly 175 students, along with the local elementary school, will remain closed for the remainder of the week.

Tumbler Ridge — a remote mountain valley town of roughly 2,400 residents in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies — is widely regarded as a safe and tightly connected community known for its lakes, waterfalls, hiking trails, and globally recognized dinosaur fossil sites.

Mayor Darryl Krakowka said the tragedy has shaken the town to its core.

“I broke down,” he said. “It is devastating. I have lived here for 18 years — I probably know every one of the victims. This community is like a big family.”

British Columbia Premier David Eby noted that officers reached the school within minutes of the first reports, underscoring the rapid response by emergency personnel.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also expressed national grief.

“I am devastated by this shooting. I join Canadians in mourning with those whose lives have been changed irreversibly today and in gratitude for the courage and selflessness of the first responders who risked their lives to protect others.”

Doctors have warned Maya’s family that her injuries are extremely severe. Still, her mother continues to hold onto hope.

“We were told the damage to her brain may be too great for her to endure,” Edmonds said. “But I can feel her in my heart… Our baby needs a miracle.”

The attack is being described as one of the most significant acts of mass violence in Canada in recent years, drawing comparisons to previous tragedies that prompted national conversations around public safety and prevention.

As investigators continue their work, the focus for many has shifted toward supporting survivors and grieving families — and toward the fragile hope that Maya Gebala, a young athlete known for her strength and spirit, can overcome the unimaginable.

For now, a community waits, prays, and mourns together.