A young girl from the UK is turning tragedy into inspiration after a terrifying accident left her with severe burns and lifelong injuries.

Aleema Ali, now 16, was just 12 years old when her life changed forever. After returning home from boarding school with a case of head lice, she used a medicated treatment called Full Marks Solution—unaware that it was highly flammable.

Moments later, while helping her mom take out the trash and walking into the kitchen, her hair suddenly caught fire, likely from a nearby heat source. Aleema was rushed to the hospital and placed in a medically induced coma for two months. She had suffered third-degree burns over more than half her body—including her face, arms, chest, and back—and tragically lost seven fingers.

The road to recovery has been long and painful. Aleema has undergone multiple surgeries and continues daily treatment with medication, pressure garments, and therapy. But despite everything, she says the experience made her stronger and more confident.

Today, Aleema shares her journey on TikTok (@aleemaxali), where she posts beauty tutorials and messages of resilience to her 216,000+ followers. One of her videos has gone viral, racking up over 15 million views. She’s also raising money through GoFundMe to help cover the costs of future reconstructive surgeries.