‘One day at a time’: Jordan Ablett opens up on life after son Levi’s diagnosis

Jordan Ablett is opening up on life after baby son Levi’s diagnosis with a rare degenerative disease, saying Gary has been her “rock” throughout.

Gary and Jordan Ablett attend the Piper-Heidsieck enclosure at the 2021 Australian Open

Jordan Ablett has described her husband, AFL legend Gary Ablett, as her “rock” who has given her strength after a year of personal loss and emotional struggle with her son, Levi’s, health condition.

Ablett’s mother, Trudy, lost her battle with lung cancer in August last year and a month earlier she and Gary had revealed that their adored son, Levi, had been diagnosed with a rare degenerative disease.

“Losing mum is something that still hurts and always will but I try and focus on the things that I can do to continue to be the kind of mum for Levi that my mum was to me,” Jordan said.

“G and I are blessed to have the kind of loving and supportive family and network that we do. “And I am so grateful to have G.

“He is truly my rock.

“He is so stable, so optimistic, so supportive and so encouraging of me.

“He has played an enormous role in keeping me strong.”

With Gary calling time of his decorated football career with Geelong in November, Jordan said the couple’s priority now was family, particularly Levi, who they describe as their “gift.”

“He (Levi) is so precious and still just as smiley and determined as ever,” Jordan said.

“I truly love being his mother.

Jordan Ablett and son Levi cheer on dad Gary as the final siren sounds Pic: Michael Klein

“We’re taking his health one day at a time and just really enjoying him and parenthood.

“Ultimately, our focus is family.

“Investing in one another and our little man is and always will be our number one priority.

“We don’t ever want to hide his light from the world but instead, we want to allow him to shine brightly in the hope that someone else’s life will (through him) become much brighter.”

She said she Gary were adjusting to life outside of football.

“Gaz has only just recently retired so everything still feels very much the same, especially having retired on the back of a shoulder injury and then surgery,” she said.

“He’s been rehabbing and has only just recently been able to progress in his training to get back to full fitness so it all feels pretty similar.

“However, having him home more often is a beautiful thing.

Little Levi Ablett was diagnosed with a rare degenerative disease last year

“We’re loving spending more time with him and are able to be more flexible with other commitments and spending time with family and friends due to no longer having to factor in footy, which is great.”

Jordan revealed a key to the private couple’s strong relationship was making time for regular “date nights”.

They attended the Australian Open on Friday as guests of Champagne house Piper-Heidsieck.

“We are very much calling this (the Australian Open) a date night,” she said.

“We try and do a date night once a week because we do believe it’s really important to intentionally set aside time for one another given how busy life can be.

“We enjoyed a glass of champagne with Piper-Heidsieck before the tennis.”