Sophie Delezio, the Australian woman who captured hearts worldwide after surviving two devastating childhood accidents, has shared the profoundly moving story of her son's birth, revealing how her past trauma resurfaced during the delivery.
A Birth Shaped by Trauma
The 24-year-old welcomed her first child, Frankie, with her husband Joseph Salerno in September. However, the joyous occasion was complicated by Delezio's history, which includes being the victim of two horrific car crashes during her childhood.
Sophie required an unplanned caesarean section to deliver Frankie, a procedure that unexpectedly triggered her post-traumatic stress disorder. 'PTSD, to me, comes out in mysterious ways,' she explained to The Canberra Times, noting that its manifestation differs from cinematic portrayals. 'For me, it was facing an operating theatre.'
Despite the emotional challenge, Delezio described how 'with a rush of adrenaline and some Taylor Swift songs playing in the background, my son was born in my most hated space in the world.' She credits the medical team's care and kindness, along with the steadfast support from her 'beautiful' husband Joseph, for helping her navigate the difficult moment.
The Realities of New Motherhood
In the months following Frankie's birth, Sophie has been openly sharing both the highs and lows of her parenting journey with her substantial social media following. By May, when her son was eight months old, she turned to other mothers for guidance, admitting she was experiencing significant exhaustion.
In a candid video posted to her Instagram Story, the new mum confessed to feeling 'run down and just a bit exhausted' while seeking advice on maintaining energy levels. 'How do you keep your child entertained?' she asked her followers. 'I have to provide top-tier entertainment. Otherwise, there are going to be many tears. And to be honest, probably from both of us.'
She described this challenging phase as 'peak motherhood, where I just want to crawl up into my bed and watch Netflix all day,' but acknowledged that 'the sun is shining and we've got to get on with the day.'
Navigating Challenges with Hope
Sophie has repeatedly mentioned her son's constant crying in responses to fan questions, describing it as 'heartbreaking' and particularly difficult when trying to determine the cause. 'Guessing what they need when they cry,' she identified as one of the most challenging aspects of new motherhood. 'It's so hard at first to figure out what each cry means and sometimes they just cry for no reason, and it breaks my heart.'
Despite these difficulties, Delezio finds immense joy in watching her son discover the world. She highlighted the best parts of being a mother as 'seeing him discover the world for the first time. His obsession with trees. His love for walks. His smile.'
Sophie's remarkable resilience stems from a childhood marked by extraordinary adversity. Australia first rallied around her in 2003 when, at just two years old, a car crashed through her daycare centre window, trapping her underneath. The tragedy left her with burns covering 85% of her body and resulted in the loss of both feet, several fingers, and her right ear.
Just three years later, disaster struck again when the five-year-old was hit by a car near her Sydney home while out with her nanny. The impact threw her 18 metres from her wheelchair, causing a broken jaw, broken collarbone, nine broken ribs, punctured lungs, two fractured vertebrae and a brain injury.
Through sharing her vulnerable moments as a new mother while managing the lasting effects of her trauma, Sophie Delezio continues to demonstrate the same courage that has defined her life story, offering inspiration to other parents facing their own challenges.
