The mother of a toddler shot in a suspected drive-by gang shooting in Alberta gave an emotional press conference Wednesday.

Candace Saddleback updated reporters about the condition of her little girl, Asia. The 23-month-old was hit by a bullet between her liver and spine in what authorities say is the latest violent episode in the town of Hobbema, on the Samson Cree Nation reserve in Central Alberta. A single shot went through a wall of Saddleback's home and hit Asia.

Eighteen-year-old Christopher Shane Crane and a 15-year-old boy are facing 31 charges between them, including assault with a weapon and gun-related charges.

Saddleback said her little girl's condition is improving and that doctors have removed an air tube and feeding tube. Asia is now listed in stable condition.

"She's talking (and) her first words were, 'Oh, mom," Saddleback said.

The young mother said it pains her to see her daughter in the hospital suffering from a gunshot wound.

"I wanted to cry. I still want to cry," she said.

Saddleback then told reporters that surgeons will never be able to remove the bullet which is still lodged in her torso.

"She's going to have to live with this all her life," she said.

Saddleback said she never wants her little girl to know about the trauma that she went through. But she fears that her daughter will one day ask about the bullet that will remain inside of her.

At one point during the press conference, Saddleback broke down in tears.

Saddleback said she wants to ask the suspects, "Why?" Composing herself, she told young people in her community who are involved in gangs and violent activity to "stop it."

Saddleback says she's too afraid to go back home and will not return to Hobbema, where she was raised.

I won't go "back to my home -- not where I raised my children. If it happened once, who's going to stop them from doing it again," she said.

Saddleback said she's hoping the tragedy will be a wakeup call for residents, police, and officials in her community.

"It's a bad crisis in Hobbema. For people to see it -- it took (the shooting of) a 23-month-old girl to recognize how bad it is in Hobbema," Saddleback said.

"I hope people see this and tell me, 'I'm so sorry what happened to your daughter. Let's change things now for the better.'"

The Chief of the Samson Cree Nation held a meeting Wednesday to discuss the rash of violence that has plagued the community. Chief Marvin Yellowbird also went on local radio to address the area's 12,000 residents and declare a "state of emergency" to deal with the problem of gang violence. Leaders in the area have also called for more RCMP help.