“We are put on this planet to live, create as much happiness, joy, love and positivity as possible and to make the world a better place for the next generation.” – Sophie Delezio
It’s been two decades, but the name Sophie Delezio still conjures up images of a broken little girl swathed in bandages, teddy bear clutched to her chest. Her tragic story captured the hearts of people all around the world, her sweet smile becoming a symbol of hope and courage in the face of unimaginable adversity. It’s been a challenging road, but twenty years on, Sophie isn’t just surviving – she’s thriving. And she’s just welcomed her first baby into the world.
Sophie was just two-and-a-half years old when a car ploughed into her preschool. Trapped beneath the car, she suffered horrific third-degree burns to 85% of her body, lost her right hand, her right ear and both her legs below the knee.
But she survived. Twice given the option to turn Sophie’s life support off, her parents Carolyn and Ron were just grateful for every second they had with her. And after more than six months of gruelling surgeries, Sophie went home – that iconic image of the little girl in the wheelchair, wrapped in bandages, cuddling her teddy.
Just three years later, tragedy struck again when Sophie was hit by a car at a pedestrian crossing. Catapulted 18 metres down the road, the impact was catastrophic. She suffered a heart attack and a brain injury, broke her jaw, collarbone and nine of her ribs, punctured a lung and fractured two vertebrae. She also lost her ability to smell.
But she survived. And although she doesn’t remember the accident herself, the world reeled at the unthinkable injustice of it all.
Despite constant surgeries to adjust the skin grafts that cover her body, despite relentless pressure wounds from her prosthetics, despite the difficulty of living with disability in an inaccessible world, Sophie has never let her accidents define her. Or hold her back.
She’s skydived, she’s travelled the globe, she’s studied in London, she drives, she goes to the gym. She’s made wonderful, life-long friends – including her husband Joseph, who’s been her best friend since she was 14. And now she’s brought their sweet little boy, Frankie, into the world.
And while Sophie admits her life isn’t always “full of sunshine and rainbows”, she’s fiercely determined not to let disability stop her from living life to the fullest.
Sophie doesn’t cover her scars or hide from the cameras – she embraces her story and the many wonderful opportunities presented to her. Her parents raised her and her brother to always believe that the sky is the limit, and she’s determined to test it out.
Although Sophie’s not comfortable with being called an ‘inspiration’, there’s no doubt that the label fits. Her unbreakable spirit, her unwavering courage and that big, joyful smile have given hope to scores of people around the world – she’s been stopped on the street and told so, many times.
But she’d rather people just see her how she sees herself – as the girl who awkward-laughs when she doesn’t know what to do, the socialite, the musical-lover, the chatterbox, the girl who loves a good hamburger, who enjoys every day as much as she can, the proud wife and new mum.
And as she begins this next chapter of her life, with Joseph and baby Frankie by her side, Sophie continues to show us all that the sky truly is the limit. Turns out her parents were right.
Sophie is a wonderful, natural speaker with a heart-wrenching and inspirational story to tell. With raw honesty and hard-won wisdom, she’ll show you that with the right mindset, people are capable of so much more than we ever imagined possible. If you’d like to talk to us about engaging her to speak at your next event, simply get in touch with us for a chat.