Laser therapy restores 15-year-old burn survivor’s confidence
The Smile Foundation and the Avela Foundation are helping children heal, inside and out, with their Umatter programme, using an advanced fractional laser to treat burn victims.
Every Friday, the corridors of Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital fill with quiet courage and hope as young burn survivors arrive for their laser therapy sessions. A lifeline made possible through the partnership between the Smile Foundation and the Avela Foundation.
Each treatment is a step toward healing, confidence, and comfort, supported by Umatter, the psychosocial programme run by the Smile Foundation and the Avela Foundation, to walk alongside burn survivors and their families on their road to recovery.
Using advanced fractional laser technology, the treatment softens and reshapes thick scar tissue, easing pain and improving mobility.
A reporter visited the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital on November 14, and spoke to brave, 15-year-old, burn survivor Molemo Tsotetsi, who suffered severe burns at only four years old in a tragic house fire that claimed the life of his younger brother. “The laser treatment journey has been good. I have had about 7 sessions, and not only have I become more confident, I have seen the difference the laser has made in improving the tone of my skin.”
Molemo’s mother, Tebogo Motukisi, said she was glad to see her son coming back to life. “The laser treatments have eased his pain and softened his scars, but what means the most to me is seeing him laugh again, and seeing him play without hiding.”
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Inspired by the impact of the programme, Tebogo has since become involved with the Smile Foundation and the Umatter programme.
Drawing from her own experience as a parent of a burn survivor, she now offers guidance and emotional support to other families navigating similar journeys, turning her family’s story of pain into one of purpose and healing. “Being part of Umatter has given me the chance to walk alongside other parents who feel lost, the same way I once did. It’s a reminder that healing goes beyond the body; it’s about community, empathy, and knowing you are not alone.”
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