Burn victim hopes to become doctor

SALEM, Mass. (myfoxboston) - Mimosa Long’s story is one of perseverance and inspiration. A burn victim at the age of two, she has lived through countless surgeries and can no doubt be called a survivor. But now she can also be called “college graduate.”

Long graduated from Salem State College on Saturday to the cheers of family and friends.

She was just two years old when she was playing hide-and-seek with a friend and hid in a closet. The 6-year-old friend locked her in the closet and set her on fire, leaving her with serious burns all over her body.

“For the past years I would wear long sleeves and long pants. I wouldn’t show any skin. I was scared of people staring at me,” she said.

She has had over 30 surgeries, and after spending much of her life in hospitals, she wants to give back to the medical community. She wants to be a pediatrician specializing in burn care.

“Just giving back to the medical field would be a great honor for me,” she said.

Long plans to continue studying at Salem State and take biology classes to complete a pre-med course.

Her goal is to attend a medical school in Boston.