Zubaida was nine years old. She was one of eight children in a nomadic family of ten—eight siblings and two parents—who moved from place to place. The family originally came from the Farah region of Afghanistan. In August 2001, Zubaida was inside a home heating a cooking burner with kerosene when the fuel ignited. The flames spread instantly, and she caught fire. Her face, neck, chest, and arms were severely burned.

Once the fire was out, her father rushed her to a nearby medical provider, where she was treated with several ointments. As her condition worsened, he decided to take her to Iran for further care. Zubaida was admitted to a hospital in Iran for 20 days and then discharged. Doctors there advised her father to take her home so she could die there. Zubaida did not die from her injuries, but she was left with a devastating deformity, significant functional disability, and a deeply damaged sense of self-esteem.

In February 2002, Zubaida’s father, Muhammad, contacted the United States government for help for his daughter’s serious burn injuries, following advice from local merchants. Zubaida was transported to a U.S. Army military installation in Kabul, where she was examined by American military doctors. After reviewing her case, they decided to reach out to the U.S. State Department to determine what options might be available.

The State Department then contacted Dr. Peter Grossman, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at The Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks, California. Arrangements were made for Zubaida to travel to the United States for treatment at The Grossman Burn Center. The effort was made possible through the Children’s Burn Foundation, a Southern California–based humanitarian organization that provides financial and social support to burn-injured children who have no other way to obtain help.

In a short time, Zubaida experienced a striking transformation after undergoing 12 major surgeries over the course of one year. She attended Round Meadow Elementary School in Calabasas, California, for the first time in her life and, within a single school year, became fluent in English. Alongside psychotherapy and physical therapy, she also formed many strong friendships with her classmates.

On her 11th birthday—March 22, 2003—she went to her first sleepover. Zubaida has said that one of her goals for the future is to become a pediatric doctor so she can help rebuild her country.

Nearly everyone who met her felt drawn to her—moved by compassion for what she had endured, impressed by the courage she showed, and inspired by the way she had changed. Many people came together to support one little girl and to give back something she had almost lost: her childhood. Meeting Zubaida, you can see that she will always carry scars, but you also notice how vibrant, beautiful, and full of life she is. Her story—of determination, strength, and human generosity—shows how she overcame tragedy against the odds.

Zubaida has only recently been reunited with her family in Afghanistan. Because her family is extremely poor, she will continue to need help through financial support, as well as assistance for her future education and ongoing medical needs.