There is a gleam of mischief in her eyes as tiny Sophie Delezio leans across the table and blows out the candles on her seventh birthday cake, splattering her parents Ron and Carolyn with cream.

For Sophie - who almost died when a car plunged through the window of her Sydney preschool in December 2003, and suffered a second tragic accident two years later - every birthday
is a triumph over adversity.

And she was so determined to celebrate this one at home with a slumber party for her nine best friends, that she battled to be released from hospital in time - after undergoing life-saving surgery just a day earlier.

The first accident robbed her of both legs from below the knee, her right ear and several fingers, and burns to more than 85 per cent of her body. Doctors were convinced she couldn't survive.
She has since endured hundreds of skin grafts and operations, but the recent round of surgery and a life-threatening infection were totally unexpected.

'All child amputees have to have revision surgery because the bone grows more quickly than the skin,' Carolyn says.

'We knew she'd have to have surgery on her legs at some stage in the near future, but she'd enjoyed almost 12 months free of any operations, and begun to reach a stage of normality, going to school and enjoying things like any other child.'

But in February Sophie had a leg ulcer that wasn't healing and had developed an infection. A course of antibiotics didn't help, and her doctor was concerned it could develop into the serious bone infection osteomyelitis.

'That carried the risk that Sophie might have to have a further amputation above the knee, which would be life-changing for her,' Carolyn says.

'The difference between having a leg amputated below the knee or above is vast - she'd need new prosthetic limbs and have to learn to walk all over again.'

A first operation, just weeks before her birthday, failed. When doctors removed the bandages they found Sophie's lower legs blackened, with much of the skin tissue dead.

Each night her parents stifled their tears as their brave daughter twisted in her bed, crying and writhing with pain as she fought this new complication.

She was immobile for nearly three weeks as surgeons battled to save her lower limbs.

'She wouldn't eat, she couldn't sleep and she was growing weak,' Ron says. 'It was scary stuff, and very painful for us to watch.'

Then Sophie picked up a staph infection, which further hindered her recovery. Another skin graft failed so, in desperation, doctors transplanted skin from her thigh.

At the moment this shows every sign of having finally resolved her latest medical issue.

'Even things that should be straightforward aren't,' Ron says. 'We just deal with everything as it comes. But nothing was going to stop Sophie being home for her birthday slumber party!'

At home, Sophie lies on a day bed, trying to get comfortable, as she chats about her special day, the sound of her eight-year-old brother Mitchell playing the trumpet in the background.

'Being seven is great,' she says. 'It's much better than being six. One of my friends said I have the best slumber parties - she said they rock!' Sophie wriggles with pleasure and grins. 'My seventh birthday was great!'

Ron and Carolyn gave Sophie a Nintendo Game Boy, which will develop her computer skills, and she's especially taken with a doll's pram, complete with parasol, from a friend. She also loves the Mio Dog - a robotic puppy - from New Idea, although her companion dog Tara, a devoted golden retriever who shadows Sophie's every move, isn't quite so thrilled.

The fact she's so full of life is a tribute to her own indomitable spirit and the love of her family. Ron and Carolyn do everything possible to help Sophie lead a normal life, in particular trying to make her regular hospital visits as untraumatic as possible.

'In hospital Sophie loves her routine - she loves the Clown Doctors, feeding the birds and the fish,' Carolyn says.

'Hospitals have been part of our everyday lives for so long, so the challenge is to make it, if not fun, then at least non-threatening for Sophie. And we seem to have achieved that.'

Sophie will endure painful 'revisions' until she's grown up - but her family is determined she'll be independent. Next month they hope to move to a new home, which has taken four years to plan and build, with features that will make life easier for Sophie.

'We have to prepare for the day we're no longer around,' Ron says calmly. 'We want to make her as comfortable and independent as possible.'

Her most ardent supporter, big brother Mitchell, is also keen his sister's life will be as happy as possible. He recently wrote
a piece of prose about his beloved Sophie as part of a school project.

'My sister is nearly seven now,' he wrote. 'And in that time she's had two big accidents and many operations. Throughout that time she's been very cheerful.

'Unlike other kids, she has artificial legs and can't run around like you and me. But she's still my happy sister and I love her very much.'

Sophie inspired the Day of Difference Foundation, a paediatric charity that provides funding for medical treatment, research, outpatient rehabilitation and education. For details visit
www.dayofdifference.org.au