GOOD NEWS: Sophie Delezio starts high school

Sophie Delezio.

It’s a name that’s imprinted into the nation’s collective memory. And last week the little girl who had the whole country behind her – has started high school.

It was almost ten years ago when two-year-old Sophie Delezio suffered third degree burns to 85% of her body and the amputation of both of her legs, after she was trapped under a burning car that crashed into her Fairlight child care centre.

Three years later, tragedy struck again.  Sophie was involved in another horrific accident when she was hit by a car at a pedestrian crossing on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

Sophie suffered a heart attack, a broken jaw, a broken shoulder, bruising to her head, numerous rib fractures and a tear to her left lung. How her little body was able to handle so much trauma stunned the medical community.

After the second accident in 2006, Sophie’s father Ron Delezio had said “A lot of people think that we might be the most unlucky family in the world with two accidents, but I like to think the other way, that we’re probably the luckiest parents alive today with having Sophie survive a second accident”.

In an interview with Channel 7’s Sunrise, Sophie said it is a ‘little bit nerve wrecking’ to be starting Year 7 – an answer that is pretty typical of most 11-year- old girls.

Her father added, “We’re very proud.  She’s very mature, she knows where she wants to go” and “she’s always been a very determined girl”.

You can watch the complete interview with Sophie and her dad on Sunrise here.

Alicia is an intern at Mamamia.com.au and an entertainment blogger. You can find her blog here.