Sophie Delezio was two and a half years old, when a car crashed through her daycare classroom after the driver suffered a seizure.
It left her with third-degree burns to almost 90 per cent of her body and she lost both legs, her right hand and her right ear in the accident. She spent almost seven months at Sydney’s Children’s Hospital, Westmead.
A few years later, she was hit by a car a second time, and suffered a brain injury and lost her sense of smell.
“I spent a lot of time in hospital as a kid, surrounded by incredible doctors, nurses, and specialists who became like family,” Delezio said.
“And now, as a new mum, I’m experiencing it from a completely different perspective.”
Her experience and time at the hospital led to her new venture, becoming a host for the Kids Health Explained podcast, which she is launching with the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network.
The podcast will feature conversations with leading clinicians and specialists, answering the most common questions parents may have about their child’s health.
“If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably found yourself Googling your child’s symptoms at 2am, tossing up between whether to take them to the Emergency Department or to manage at home,” Delezio wrote on social media.
“As a mum, I know those moments all too well. And as someone who grew up receiving care at the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network (SCHN), I also know how valuable trusted health information can be,” she continued, before explaining the purpose of the podcast.
“We’ll answer the questions parents ask most, sharing practical, evidence-based advice to help families feel more confident when it comes to their child’s health.”
“This isn’t just about medicine,” Sophie explained. “This is about a mum sitting down with people who live and breathe this every day.”
The podcast is the latest chapter of her career as a disability advocate and keynote speaker, with Delezio teasing that she has other projects’ coming up.
Kids Health Explained will air its first episode on Wednesday, 1 July, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Images: Instagram
