Sophie Delezio

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Sophie Joy Delezio (born 2001) is an Australian schoolgirl, the first daughter of Ron Delezio and Carolyn Martin and younger sister of Mitchell Delezio. She gained media attention when she was involved in an accident at the Roundhouse Childcare Centre in Fairlight, Sydney Australia, where she suffered third-degree burns to 85% of her body and was hospitalised for several weeks where she lost both her legs. Her family has since then become major fundraisers and activists for victims who suffered similar conditions as Sophie's, and have also assisted in fundraising for the Sydney Children's Hospital in Westmead. Sophie became known by the media and the public in Sydney as "little Sophie".

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[edit] First accident

Sophie first came to the attention of the public on December 15, 2003 when she and two other children, were badly injured when they were trapped under a burning vehicle which had crashed through a fence into the child care centre where they were being cared for. Sophie suffered burns to most of her body and lost both feet, some fingers, and her right ear. The circumstances of the accident, the rescue of the children by passers by and members of the emergency services (for which a number received bravery awards),[1] and the fortitude both she and Wood showed during their months-long recovery in hospital made them the subject of national news coverage.[2][3]

The driver who crashed into that centre, Donald John McNeall, was 68 at the time of the accident. He was cleared of negligent driving before a magistrate's court after medical experts agreed he had had a seizure.

In late 2004 Sophie's parents founded the Day of Difference Foundation, a charity dedicated to raising funds for research into pediatric burns and related diseases.[4]

In January 2006, Sophie was enrolled at the publicly funded Balgowlah Heights Public School. The school was extensively refurbished to accommodate the needs of Sophie.[5]

[edit] Second accident

On May 5, 2006 Sophie again made national headlines when she was badly injured in a road accident. While being pushed by her caregiver in a wheelchair with her service dog Tara by her side, across a pedestrian crossing near her home in Sydney's northern beaches she was hit by a car, and thrown 18 metres. Sophie suffered a heart attack, a broken jaw and shoulder bone, bruising to her head, numerous rib fractures and a tear to her left lung. She was treated at the Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick.[6]

She left hospital and returned home to continue her recovery on 7th June 2006.[7]

An 80-year-old man, John George Sharman, was charged in relation to the second accident with "dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and not giving way to a pedestrian on a crossing".[8] Having pleaded guilty Sharman was in October 2006 placed on a good behavior bond for 18 months and suspended from driving for a year.[9]

Sophie's father maintained that while accidents do happen, reconstruction of the pedestrian crossing in question must be commenced, due to the number of incidents occurring.

On July 16, 2006 Sophie's story was told on Channel 7's True Stories series.

Sophie Delezio returned to classes at Balgowlah Heights Public School on Thursday, 20th July 2006.[10]

[edit] Public response

As a result of Sophie Delezio's accident over $2 million has been raised, along with heightened public awareness for the need for adequate support and services for pediatric burns patients. Some of these funds were raised at the Kids 4 Kids Benefit Concert held on 10th September 2006. The NSW Government has announced that it is investigating the possibility of reducing the age for mandatory medical checks for drivers from 80 to 75 years of age. It has agreed to install traffic lights at the crossing where the accident occurred. It is also claimed that Delezio's recovery will contribute to the case for the canonisation of Mary MacKillop.[11]

[edit] Ron Delezio

Ron Delezio of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia is the father of Sophie Delezio as well as fundraiser for charity. On September 1, 2006 he was named as the 2006 Australian Father of the Year award recipient.[12][13][14] He was also nominated as Australian of the Year[15] He is founder and present chairman of the Day of Difference Foundation, an Australian charity focusing on the prevention and control of burns-related disease.

[edit] Further reading

[edit] References

  1. ^ New South Wales Fire Brigades Bravery Awards Presentation. Legislative Council Hansard. Parliament of New South Wales (27 October 2004). Retrieved on 2007-02-04.
  2. ^ Petersen, Freya. "Super Sophie - any tougher, and she'd rust", The Sydney Morning Herald, June 4, 2004. Retrieved on 2007-02-04. 
  3. ^ Norrie, Justin. "A second blow too cruel to contemplate", The Sydney Morning Herald, May 6, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-02-04. 
  4. ^ Day Of Difference Foundation. Day Of Difference Foundation (2006). Retrieved on 2007-02-04.
  5. ^ [1], inaccessible 2007-02-04
  6. ^ "We're very fortunate: battler Sophie's parents", The Sydney Morning Herald, May 29, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-02-04. 
  7. ^ [2], inaccessible 2007-02-04
  8. ^ "Sophie Delezio driver case adjourned", The Age, August 16, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-02-04. 
  9. ^ [3], inaccessible 2007-02-04
  10. ^ "Sophie Delezio returns to school", The Age, July 20, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-02-04. 
  11. ^ Petersen, Freya. "Sophie's miracle could mean Mother Mary's sainthood", The Sydney Morning Herald, July 5, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-02-04. 
  12. ^ History of the Award. The Shepherd Centre (2005). Retrieved on 2007-02-04.
  13. ^ Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Sydney, Friday, 1 September 2006. - Ron Delezio named Father of the Year
  14. ^ AAP via Yahoo! Australia News, Friday September 1, 2005 - Ron Delezio named Father of the Year
  15. ^ National Australia Day Council - Australian of the Year Award 2007 - Ron Delezio

[edit] External links