Happy news! Sophie Delezio and her partner, Joseph Salerno, have welcomed their first child into the world.
The 23-year-old shared the birth announcement on Instagram on Friday.
“Welcome to the world, Frankie. Our hearts are so full,” she wrote alongside a black-and-white photo of Frankie.
Overcoming incredible adversity, Sophie gained national attention after two serious car accidents left her with severe injuries.
Her plight inspired the nation, and we rallied behind Sophie, who had experienced more bad fortune in five short years than most people do in a lifetime.
At the age of two, she was involved in a tragic car accident at childcare centre that resulted in third-degree burns to 90 percent of her body. The accident also claimed both of her legs below the knee, her right hand, and her right ear.
Despite the severity of her injuries, Sophie survived and spent almost a year in the hospital undergoing extensive treatment and rehabilitation. Her parents, Ron and Carolyn, became advocates for their daughter and other children with similar injuries.
In 2006, Sophie was involved in a second car accident. She was hit by a car while her nanny pushed her wheelchair at a crossing in Seaforth. The impact caused Sophie to be thrown 18 metres, leading to severe injuries such as a broken jaw, broken ribs, a fractured collarbone, a punctured lung, brain bleeding, and a heart attack.
Placed in a coma in intensive care, her parents were faced with the difficult decision of whether or not to turn off life support. Sophie was just five years old.
Through countless surgeries and physical therapy sessions, Sophie learned to walk again with prosthetic limbs. She became an accomplished swimmer and rower, proving that her physical limitations would not define her.
Sophie has inspired countless people around the world. She has become a vocal advocate for disability rights and has used her platform to raise awareness about the challenges faced by people with disabilities. Her advocacy has led to significant changes in road safety laws and increased support for children with burn injuries.
In addition to her advocacy work, Sophie is also a successful author, journalist, content creator, and public speaker. Now she’s added mother to her list of titles and we couldn’t be happier for her.
You can follow Sophie’s incredible journey at @soph.delezio
Main image credit: soph.delezio
