Young Girl Burned by Citronella Candle Aims to Raise Awareness

Thirteen-year-old Aarna Kumar was playing outside when an accident left her with both physical and psychological scars. Thanks to the doctors and nurses at Loyola Medicine's Burn Center, Kumar is healing and hopes to inspire other patients who are facing a similar struggle.

In September 2024, Kumar was in her backyard playing with her nephew. A citronella candle burned nearby, next to a sealed bottle of alcohol. Strong winds knocked the bottle over, causing it to burst and ignite. The gusts were blowing toward Kumar, causing the fire to spread to her clothing.

"Accidents with fire can happen in the blink of an eye, even from a small candle or flame," said Joshua Carson, MD, surgeon and critical care physician at Loyola Medicine's Burn Center. "All candles should be handled with care, even outdoors, and should not be used during strong winds or near alcohol or any other accelerant." 

Kumar's mother, Nirmita, quickly rushed her into the shower, where the third-degree burns on her thighs were already starting to blister. Doctors at Loyola performed a skin graft to replace the burned skin. For months, Kumar required daily wound dressings, intensive physical therapy both at the hospital and at home and wore compression garments to help the wounds heal.

"I wish this never happened, and I pray nobody else has to go through this," said Nirmita. "You hear about these things happening and you feel bad for the people involved, but when it happens to your own child, it absolutely breaks your heart." 

Her pain is not only physical. Kumar missed months of school and struggles with confidence among her curious peers. For a time, she experienced a fear of her own backyard, where the accident occurred. 

"Loyola was there for her right away," said Nirmita. "I was blown away by how many doctors were in her room. They were so assuring and honest with me about the treatment plan and the risks, which I really appreciated. I had a lot of faith in them taking care of my child."

Kumar continues to get better by the day and hopes to educate and inspire others with her story. In December, she visited patients at the burn center and shared care packages to help raise their spirits and support the care team that helped her on her journey to recovery.