Sophie Delezio has farewelled her first prosthetic legs in an emotional reflection on the equipment she initially refused to wear but which ultimately gave her independence.
The Australian burns survivor, now 25 and a mother-of-one, shared a photograph of the artificial limbs on Instagram and described them as a lasting reminder of her recovery.
“To my first pair of prosthetic legs,” she wrote. “I’ve held onto you for so long, but now it’s time to let you go.”
Delezio said the legs had helped her become responsible for her own physical needs after the surgeries and treatment that followed her childhood injuries.
“You gave me more independence than I ever thought possible and taught me what it means to be accountable for my own physical needs,” she wrote. “I didn’t like you at first, and yes, my physio had to beg me to wear you. But you became the centre of my independence.”
She said the prosthetics had carried and supported her during a crucial period of her life, when she was still very young.
“Thank you for being the first to carry me and literally hold me up when I was so small,” Delezio wrote. “I wish I could keep you forever, but I know it’s time to say goodbye. You were falling apart in front of my eyes, so I’m taking that as a sign.”
She added: “Thank you for being the reminder of how far I’ve come. You are the pairs of tiny little legs that I will hold in my heart forever.”
Sophie Delezio’s journey to independence
Delezio was two when an out-of-control car crashed into her childcare centre in Sydney’s Fairfield just before Christmas in 2003, trapping her under rubble.
She suffered burns to 85 per cent of her body and lost both feet, several fingers and her right ear. She spent six and a half months in hospital, including an extended period in intensive care.
Almost three years later, she was seriously injured again when a car struck her and her nanny as they crossed a road, sending Delezio 18 metres into the air.
She was treated at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, the healthcare network she has since partnered with for the podcast Kids’ Health Explained. The series aims to help parents find trusted information about children’s health.
Delezio and her partner Joseph welcomed their son Frankie in September 2024. She now draws on her experiences of disability and motherhood to promote accessibility, compassion and independence, while supporting other families navigating parenthood.
