UFC CEO and President Dana White has offered to pay the full cost of treating Tumbler Ridge, B.C. shooting victim Maya Gebala at a Los Angeles area hospital, with accommodations for the family included.
Gebala’s mother, Cia Edmonds, revealed the news in a post on social media on Wednesday. The UFC had previously featured Maya’s name on the octagon, recognizing the survivor of one of Canada’s worst school shootings.
The 12-year old was shot in the head and neck on February 10 while attempting to lock the library doors at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School as 18-year old shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar opened fire on fleeing children. A classmate then pulled Gebala to safety.
Van Rootselaar’s mother and 11-year old half brother were killed by the shooter at their home before six other victims were slain at Tumbler Ridge Secondary. The killer had previously been detained under the Mental Health Act and had weapons seized, though they were later returned.
A bullet fragment remains lodged in Gebala’s brain, and she has undergone multiple brain surgeries. She remains unable to move her right side outside of wiggling her toes, though she has communicated through yes/no paddles using her good arm.
In Wednesday’s post by Edmonds, who has been documenting Maya’s progress for over 100,000 followers, she wrote that “after a week of being in the ICU we were contacted by the president of the UFC, Dana White, he’d offered Maya full paid medical in one of the world’s most top tier hospitals in LA California.”
“He has also offered to pay for a place to stay,” she added. “It’s incredible really. I would have never thought this is where this would go. I’m finally excited to see her become the best version of who she can ne through all this. For anyone who watches UFC, they put my babe’s name in the ring. Super cool. The children’s hospital has an extensive brain trauma clinic and more resources. However, Maya hadn’t been stable enough to travel. Until now.”
Edmonds noted that plans were tentative, and will no doubt rely on Gebala’s condition and ability to travel.
“It feels as though the air got lighter, and Maya has some light in her eyes… hope just got a little more brighter,” Edmonds added. “My fighter… I always said her stubborn hard head will work well for her some day.”
Doctors in British Columbia originally did not expect Maya to live, and had prepared the family for the worst. Recently, a surgery to place a prosthetic in her skull had to be called off after an abcess was discovered. However, Gebala has continued to show incredible resilience.
A GoFundMe set up by the family has raised over half a million dollars CAD to date, though with the extent of her injuries, lifelong care remains a possibility. Making Dana White’s generosity no doubt very welcome news for her family.