'She’s afraid of fire even in her sleep': Nine-year-old battles trauma after severe burns

TAIPING - "When she closes her eyes, it feels like the doctor is coming with fire. She’s now afraid of anything hot," said a father, describing the trauma his daughter has been enduring after a heartbreaking incident in the final week of Ramadan.

The words cut deep — all the more so coming from a young girl whose body remains wrapped in bandages from severe burn injuries.

Nine-year-old Nur Kaisah Zahra Abdul Ghafar is still receiving treatment at Taiping Hospital after suffering serious burns when her body was engulfed in flames, believed to have been caused by petrol sparks while she was playing with friends in Parit Haji Taib 2 on March 15.

The eldest of two siblings sustained burns covering 40 per cent of her body, from her chest down to her legs, requiring intensive care and multiple surgeries.

Her father, Abdul Ghafar Masran, 50, said she has so far undergone two operations, including skin graft procedures to treat the affected areas.

He said the second surgery, which lasted about five hours on Wednesday, involved taking skin from her back and abdomen to graft onto her left leg and buttocks.

"Further updates will only be known this Monday when doctors remove the bandages to assess her progress," he told Sinar.

Abdul Ghafar, a machine operator at a factory said another surgery may be needed in May to treat areas that have yet to fully heal.

While his daughter’s physical condition has shown some improvement and she has begun to regain her appetite, he said her emotional state remains fragile and she is still traumatised by the incident.

"She has seen the condition of her body and asked whether the scars will go away. I try to reassure her so she doesn’t lose hope.

"She’s still young. I worry that if she becomes too overwhelmed, she might fall into depression," he said.

He added that during the first week of treatment, his daughter struggled to sleep as she was haunted by memories of the incident.

He said the hospital planned to provide counselling and trauma therapy to help her with emotional recovery once her physical condition stabilises.

"Please pray for my daughter. I just want to see her recover and smile like she used to," he said.

He said what should have been a joyous Aidilfitri turned sorrowful, as Nur Kaisah was unable to wear her "baju Raya."

Meanwhile, Abdul Ghafar said his daughter’s treatment costs are estimated to exceed RM50,000, including several surgeries.

He said the first surgery was funded using his own savings and loans from family members, while the second was covered through public donations, costing around RM36,000 in total.

"My wife and I are currently on unpaid leave to care for our child at the hospital.

"Alhamdulillah, I recently received a contribution of RM18,000 from the Perak Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council, which will help cover upcoming treatment costs," he said.

Those seeking further information can contact Abdul Ghafar at 016-9251245.