Zubaida, a nine-year-old girl from Farah, Afghanistan, was one of eight children in a nomadic family. In August 2001, her life changed forever. While pouring kerosene into a home burner, it ignited, engulfing her in flames. She suffered devastating burns to her face, neck, chest, and arms. After receiving limited care in Afghanistan and Iran, doctors eventually told her father there was nothing more they could do—he should take her home to die. But Zubaida survived, though she was left severely disfigured and emotionally traumatized.

Desperate for help, her father reached out to the U.S. government in February 2002. Zubaida was brought to a U.S. Army base in Kabul, where American military doctors referred her case to the U.S. State Department. That’s when Dr. Peter Grossman, a renowned plastic surgeon in California, stepped in. With support from the Children’s Burn Foundation, Zubaida was flown to the United States and underwent 12 major reconstructive surgeries at the Grossman Burn Center.

Her physical recovery was nothing short of remarkable—but the transformation didn’t stop there. Zubaida enrolled in school for the first time, learned English in just one year, and formed deep friendships. On her 11th birthday in March 2003, she attended her very first sleepover—a milestone that marked just how far she had come.

Inspired by the doctors who saved her, Zubaida now dreams of becoming a pediatrician so she can help rebuild her country and care for children like herself.

Everyone who meets Zubaida is touched by her courage, resilience, and radiant spirit. Though her scars remain, they do not define her. She recently reunited with her family in Afghanistan, but they continue to live in extreme poverty. Zubaida now needs financial support to continue her education and receive the medical care she still requires.

Her story is one of survival, strength, and hope—a powerful reminder of what compassion and determination can achieve.