‘Miracle’ Syrian toddler with extreme burns after refugee camp fire reunites with family – World News
Dalal came to the brink of death three times after she and her family were caught up in a horrific blaze at their refugee camp in Idlib, Syria, where her older sister, Yasmin, died trying to rescue her
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Syrian toddler is reunited with family after suffering extensive burns
A Syrian toddler who suffered extreme burns to her entire body after being engulfed in flames has finally been reunited with her family.
Dalal’s plight captured the attention of people around the world after she and her family were caught up in a blaze at their refugee camp in Idlib, Syria, at the start of this year.
Tragically, Dalal’s older sister Yasmin died in the fire while trying to rescue the toddler.
Dalal suffered agonising injuries in the blaze, including the loss of her hair, eyelids, nose, ears and lips.
Her arms, legs and body were all badly hurt – even her lungs, throat and windpipe suffered extensive burn damage.
Dalal was rushed across the border to Turkey to receive emergency treatment for her burns, where she started her long and arduous recovery battle.
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Image:
Sky News)
Medics worked with Dalal for months, rebuilding her burnt skin in multiple operations, with doctors saying the brave toddler fought back from the brink of death three times – calling her a ‘miracle baby’
Her story was first reported by Sky News, prompting doctors from around the world to contact the media corporation with offers of help.
Dr Cagatay Demirci at Mersin City Hospital led Dalal’s recovery after initially giving her just a 10% chance of surviving.
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Image:
Sky News)
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Image:
Sky News)
He and his team embarked on a series of complicated skin grafting surgeries where they rebuilt her lips and eyelids.
Sadly, Dalal lost both her hands to the fire, but battled on before eventually being discharged in May.
With Dalal prone to infection, her surgical team then worried her return to a refugee camp could hinder her road to recovery.
But thanks to the generosity of strangers from across the world, and the Turkish authorities allowing her temporary refuge in the country, she was able to stay.
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Image:
Sky News)
Money raised by donors in the UK and across the world allowed Dalal and her father Abdul Fatah to rent a small flat near the hospital – as well as purchasing passports for her mother Fatima and four older siblings to join them in Turkey.
Now, Fatima and the children have finally been reunited with Dalal for the first time in six months.
Despite being very mobile and keen to walk and feed herself as she learns to adapt to her new body, Dalal faces further operations.
Her team are now preparing her for her first reconstructive surgery later this year, in which they will attempt to rebuild some of her fingers to help her pinch mobility later in life.
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Image:
Sky News)
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Image:
Sky News)
Dalal will also need surgery on her eyes soon as her skin continues to grow rapidly over them – meaning she currently tilts her head to partially see.
She will also face a number of operations later in life, where surgeons will attempt to rebuild her nose, ears, cheeks and mouth.
Despite the long road ahead, Dalal is now reunited with her whole family – who are living in a stable and safe home for the first time in their lives.
