MIAMI – More than 100 people took part in a flash mob Friday to put a smile on the face of a 5-year-old girl who has been battling cancer for more than a year.
Salma Richani has been in and out of the Holtz Children's Hospital for all types of treatment, including a stem cell transplant.
On Friday, all of the people she has touched with her smile wanted to see hers shine brightly.
Friends, family, nurses, doctors and hospital staff joined together in the flash mob, dancing to her favorite song by Colombian superstar Carlos Vives.
The song translates to, "I am reborn again," and the singer actually came to the hospital and met Salma. He even invited her to one of his concerts and brought her on stage.
The 5-year-old is finishing a grueling round of treatments, including chemotherapy and everyone says she is so brave and such a courageous girl with a positive attitude, so they wanted to send her home to Venezuela with an amazing memory.
Salma was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer that attacks the nervous system. The family found out when she was 4 years old.
The discovery happened after Salma complained of back pain and had difficulty walking. They were on vacation in Miami from their native Venezuela, and since then, Salma has become a bit of a celebrity at the hospital and a social media star with the hashtag #love4salma.
Smiling in her stroller, she seemed a little overwhelmed with the huge performance and show of love, but her father said it is something she will never forget.
"It is just a message to love with God, the people and faith and family," Salma's father, Dr. Kaled Richani said. "Miracles endure. Miracles happen, so this is a special moment that is going to last for life."
Salma is leaving the hospital later Friday and going home to Venezuela.