Jordan Ablett reveals pain of son missing his ‘first day of school’ moment

Jordan Ablett has opened up on her battle of accepting that young Levi will miss key life events due to a rare degenerative disease.

Gary Ablett Jnr is seen with his son Levi during the 2022 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Geelong Cats and the Sydney Swans. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Jordan Ablett has opened up on her “battle of the mind” after her son missed a major life milestone.

Four-year-old Levi, the son of Jordan and Cats legend Gary Ablett Jr, suffers from a rare degenerative disease which Ms Ablett has said leaves him with a “very short life expectancy.”

In a social media post, Ms Ablett said that while she is happy for them, seeing children the same age as Levi attending prep-transition has made her heart feel “heavy.”

“Truthfully for me, it’s been a battle of the mind this week,” she said via social media.

“I feel like I’ve been constantly jumping between two very different perspectives.

Jordan Ablett posted a photo of five-year-old Levi to social media. Source: Instagram

“Some thoughts have been quite negative with a ‘why us’ attitude, whereas others have been positive and hopeful.

“I’d like to think that the latter ones are the most dominant but it does take some serious effort.

“I’ve had to really make up my mind that I’ll try and think on purpose which just in itself is challenging.”

Ms Ablett said that she has accepted Levu’s condition will means he will miss life milestones afforded to other children his age.

“Although our little man won’t have a ‘first day at school’ moment nor any of all the other school days that follow … that’s okay,” Ms Ablett said.

Gary Ablett walks to his guard of honour as wife Jordan and son Levi look on during the 2020 Grand Final. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos)

“One of the lessons that I’ve learnt over the past couple of years is that I need to let go of the things that were never promised to me but only presumed by me.

“Letting go of what I thought would be and embracing what’s meant to be.”

The Ablett family welcomed another boy earlier in the year, their third child after the birth of daughter Grace in 2021.

Ms Ablett said that she shared her feelings via social media because “there can be purpose in our pain and when we weather any kind of storm in our lives, we’re in a better position to support and offer advice to others going through the same things”.

“Hopefully if there’s someone who’s heart feels heavy today, they will read this and feel a little lighter and better about letting go of what was never meant for them and a little more hopeful about embracing what is,” she wrote

Originally published as Jordan Ablett reveals pain of son missing his ‘first day of school’ moment