One tough little lady

On December 15 2003, on Sydney's northern beaches, the driver of a car suffered an epileptic seizure. His vehicle ploughed into a day care centre and burst into flame, trapping two little girls, both aged two.

One of these, Molly Wood, suffered third degree burns to 40 percent of her body. Her friend, Sophie Delezio was in a worse condition. She lost an ear, fingers and both feet and 85 percent of her tiny frame was burned, in places down to the bone. For many weeks no one knew if she would survive. Doctors even gave her parents the option of "letting her go", but for them this was never a consideration.

After years of on-going treatment including many operations Sophie has made incredible progress, and though she has lived with constant pain since the accident, always has a smile and a cheerful outlook.

On May 5, 2006, Sophie was in a push-chair, being wheeled across a pedestrian crossing when a car struck her. She was thrown 18 metres by the impact.

She has a broken clavicle, fractured leg and a number of broken ribs, one of which has punctured a lung. She is in a critical but stable condition and though it is expected she will recover, she is being kept on life support for several weeks to give her lungs a chance to heal.

So next time you feel like life's got it in for you, think of little Sophie.....