Sophie Delezio is back on social media after taking a much-needed break almost a year ago.

The newlywed and new mum struggled with the negativity that can come with choosing to share her life publicly – as she puts it, being “yelled back into a hole” – and the pressure she placed on herself to be perfect in every way.

Sophie Delezio stepped away from social media after struggling with the negativity of a public platform. @soph.delezio

“I got so burnt out … I just needed some time to rest and give myself that leave,” she told nine.com.au.

Today, Delezio has returned to her social platforms with a new perspective and a project she hopes will help parents of young children navigate the tricky first few years.

Surviving against the odds

Delezio was two when she first made headlines in December 2003 when a car crashed into her day care centre. She was trapped under the burning car, resulting in third-degree burns to 85 per cent of her body. She was in hospital for almost a year and lost both her legs below the knee, her right hand, and an ear.

In 2006, she was left badly injured once again when she was hit by a car while crossing a road in a wheelchair, accompanied by her nanny and her service dog Tara. Delezio was thrown 18 metres and suffered a heart attack, a broken jaw and shoulder, bruising to her head, numerous rib fractures and a tear to her left lung.

She recovered once again, and Australia has cheered her on ever since.

Reflecting on her childhood, Delezio has found peace in choosing to focus on her blessings.

“I am forever grateful for the journey because it has brought the most amazing people into my life.

Delezio has now returned to her social platforms, sharing snapshots of her life as a young mum. Instagram/@soph.delezio

“I could never go back and say ‘I wish it never happened’ because I was wishing my whole life away.

“I could never do that because I love my life now. It comes with its challenges, but so does everyone else’s life. No one’s challenge is greater than the other.

“So I just am so grateful for the love and support, people encouraging me, and the advocacy of people with disabilities.”

Delezio married her long-time partner and childhood sweetheart Joseph Salerno on April 12, 2025. They exchanged vows in a ceremony at the heritage-listed Anambah House in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales.

They welcomed their first child, son Frankie, who is almost one, seven months earlier in September 2024.

Delezio married her childhood sweetheart, Joseph Salerno in April last year. Instagram/@soph.delezio

The couple are parents to son Frankie. Instagram/@soph.delezio

Delezio is the first to admit she didn’t always accept as much help as she needed along the way, a challenge many new parents share.

“Honestly, I probably don’t balance it as well as I should. It’s definitely a juggle,” she said.

“I think a lot of parents would agree to this … we’re always going to try and be the best version of ourselves for our kids and our own health be damned sometimes. It’s just a bit of a process for that.

“There are days when I’m incredibly grateful to have the most amazing parents and in-laws and family around and friends who always volunteer to help.

“I know I need to accept help. And just because I’m living differently, doesn’t mean no one else feels it. We all feel that to some extent.

“We all push our own health aside for the sake of our kids. We all need to accept more help than we do.”

“We’re always going to try and be the best version of ourselves for our kids and our own health be damned sometimes.” Instagram/@soph.delezio

A much-needed break

Delezio happily began posting content about her new life as a mum, but even she wasn’t safe from the negativity that can come with sharing one’s life online.

She abruptly stopped posting online in June 2025.

“It’s been literally a year. [Frankie] was almost one by that point, but I just needed a little break,” she said.

“I just needed some time to work on some projects that were up and coming. I was already in talks for this podcast … I just wanted to kind of clear my head, go back with a clean slate and start fresh.

“I think with social media, it’s really hard to address when you need a break, and I’m going to try and be open and honest with that.

“I find a lot of new mums, they have that experience. They show up earnestly and honestly, and just get yelled back into a hole.

“The pressure you put on yourself is ridiculous, and I got so burnt out because I felt that nothing was ever good enough, whether it was in the editing process or the filming process.

Delezio stepped back from her online presence to clear her head. Instagram/@soph.delezio

“I was so caught up with ‘how are people going to perceive this? What are they going to say? What are the comments going to be?’ And that just got to me.

“Also the line between my family life and my work life got a bit blurred, and we do keep my son out of social media.

“I just needed some time to rest and give myself that leave. Hopefully by sharing my journey, and finding that level of self-care, I can go about it in a way that encourages others to do the same.”

New projects

Now she’s back online, Delezio is “so excited to work with some amazing brands” and “give people some honest feedback on living with a disability”.

Her latest project is a podcast called Kids’ Health Explained for the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network (SCHN).

Delezio is working on a podcast called Kids’ Health Explained. Instagram/@soph.delezio

While she is excited to share helpful information for parents, the project had its challenges for Delezio – including walking back onto hospital grounds after having spent so much of her young life in them, and seeing so many children suffering from various ailments at a similar age to when she did.

“Seeing the parents and the patients, that gets me every time. I think I am able to disassociate because my accidents were just so random. There was no predicting it, they just happened,” she said.

“I don’t want to be pitying them. I never liked to feel it as a kid.

“There are always going to be things that you want to change about your life, but you never want to take away certain things. My parents had the choice to turn my machines off, but they didn’t. And I’m so grateful for that.

“I just want to approach them with kindness, and credit where credit’s due, they are so strong. Everyone who’s been in the hospital, everyone who works at the hospital as well, they’re all superhumans.”

The first season launches next week and is available wherever you get your podcasts. Delezio said each episode features a discussion of various topics, covering why a child might end up in the hospital system.

“There’s just so many topics and they give advice in a clear and honest way that is simple for an everyday parent to understand. Having that information is so valuable as a parent. I wish I’d had it,” she said.

“We haven’t dived into topics relating to my accidents just yet, but stay tuned for season two.”