Mentalechoes

I don’t normally this kind of thing I am doing right now, as my blog is not some kind of philanthropic do-gooder space, but I was so moved by the plight of this little girl that I simply felt compelled to try to help her in some small way.

A little girl of 5 years old in Australia who goes by the name of Sophia Delezio was critically injured when a car smashed into her (wheelchair like) buggy a day ago. If this isn’t bad enough, this is the second accident to nearly claim her life in 3 years. The first was when a car smashed into her day care center and she was pinned under a burning wreck which ultimately claimed both her feet and some fingers off one hand.

Here is the story extract taken from The Australian Age newspaper.

Bravest little girl in the world
By Catharine Munro, Daniel Dasey
May 7, 2006

SOPHIE DELEZIO — facing her second fight for survival — will be on life support for at least three weeks after being struck by a car driven by an 80-year-old man.

The five-year-old has multiple rib fractures, a smashed jaw, broken shoulder bone and bleeding in the left lung after the accident on Friday.

Well-wishers have left candles, flowers, teddy bears and messages of support for the “bravest of the brave” outside the Sydney hospital where she is once again defying the odds.

Her doctor, Jonny Taitz, said she had surprised him by fighting back from after being critically injured in the accident — the second to almost claim her life in almost three years.

“She really is a fighter,” Dr Taitz said, adding she had already proved doctors wrong the first time round.

“I didn’t believe she would survive that first day (of the first accident). Everything she has done subsequently has proved the medical profession wrong.”

Doctors at Sydney Children’s Hospital were concerned that vessels around her heart may have been damaged when she was run down in a heartbreaking sequel to the 2003 car crash in which she lost both feet. She also suffered burns to 85 per cent of her body when a car crashed into her child-care centre in Fairlight, Sydney.

Sophie’s father, Ron, said he could not believe the bad luck.

“We were devastated when we heard the news from our carer, but you have got to just put your chin up and keep going,” he said. “I don’t know whether it is bad luck or if I have done something bad in the past and it’s just coming back.”

Mr Delezio spent the night at Sophie’s bedside with her mother, Carolyn Martin.

Ms Martin’s god-daughter, Rebecca Myhre, pushed Sophie’s stroller on to the crossing before it was struck. Sophie’s mother was told she was thrown between 15 and 20 metres. Doctors said the car was travelling about 60 km/h. Sophie had just left her school.

Mr Delezio said the accident was not Ms Myhre’s fault and the family did not blame her.

He said the crossing’s location was dangerous. Locals had been lobbying authorities to change its design and install traffic lights. The NSW Roads and Traffic Authority announced yesterday that it would install traffic signals.

Dr Taitz said: “She is the sickest patient I have ever looked after in my 12 to 13 years experience here in the UK and South Africa.”

He treated Sophie at the Royal North Shore Hospital after the 2003 accident.

Dr Taitz said she would be on a ventilator for at least three weeks but would not require urgent surgery. After her last accident she underwent relentless rounds of surgery to repair her burnt skin. “I just can’t believe that one family can be so unlucky,” Dr Taitz said.

A website has been set up for sending messages of support to Sophie and her family. If you feel similarly moved to the tragedy of this little girl, please visit here and pass on your best wishes. I really believe that little things like this will certainly go a long way to giving her and her family courage in the long days ahead with her recovery and beyond.

Many thanks for your time to read this.

Padwanna!