Khaberni - The Emirati girl Moza Kasb (seven years old) survived severe burns after she tried to imitate a trending video on social media that shows a doll catching fire as part of the "evil dolls trend".
The incident coincided with her birthday celebration in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, and resulted in burns extending from her chest to her back and abdomen, requiring prolonged treatment that lasted more than two months at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City in Abu Dhabi.
The child's mother reported that Moza was celebrating her seventh birthday with her cousins when they decided to mimic a social media trending video showing a doll catching fire as part of the "evil dolls trend". As soon as they ignited the fire for the experiment, Moza’s clothes, which were made of traditional Emirati “Makhour” embellished with beads and decorations, instantly caught fire as soon as they touched the flame, according to Al-Emarat Al-Youm newspaper.
She added that her daughter, after her clothes caught fire, ran out in panic driven by fear instead of heading towards her family, which increased the severity of the burns due to the midday sun heat. Moza’s uncle, who happened to be passing by the house, saw her and the flames devouring her clothes, he rushed to tear them off and rescue her before immediately transporting her to the hospital.
Moza’s mother mentioned that her daughter was first taken to Khalifa Specialty Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah, then transferred by ambulance to Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City for specialized treatment, adding that she “was crying from severe pain all the way, but calmed down as soon as she arrived at the hospital, where the medical team immediately took her into the treatment room and started handling her case urgently.” She also mentioned that the burns affected her chest area up to the top of the navel, as well as the shoulders, back, and part of the hair, noting that doctors used modern treatment techniques, including temporary biologic matrix (BTM) and precise grafting operations using "MIC" technology, to speed up the healing process and reduce pain.
She continued: "We spent 66 days in the hospital, it was an extremely difficult experience, but it taught us a lot about patience, as the medical team explained every detail of the treatment step by step, and treated my daughter with great kindness to alleviate her fears."
She added that Moza, despite the pain and suffering she went through, showed remarkable courage during her long treatment journey, quickly adapting to the hospital environment, making friends with other children, and sharing toys and gifts with them. She even began to aspire to become a physical therapist when she grows up, to help patients as the doctors helped her.
After a treatment journey that lasted more than two months, Moza recovered her smile, returned to school walking confidently and playing with her classmates, carrying with her a valuable lesson in awareness and caution regarding the imitation of digital content without supervision.
Moza’s mother assured that her health condition has significantly improved, and the medical team reassured the family that her skin would gradually recover over time. She mentioned that Moza had moved past the pain stage and regained her usual activity.
Despite her young age, Moza showed remarkable awareness of what she had gone through, saying, "I've become a little afraid of fire, and I will not imitate any dangerous trend again."
From this harsh experience, Moza emerged with a deep lesson; today she not only carries the scars from the burns, but also a message she spreads among her classmates, to be a small voice warning of the dangers of blindly imitating content spread on the internet.
