Jordan Ablett reveals heartbreaking detail about son Levi’s condition

Gary Ablett’s wife Jordan Ablett has revealed a devastating reality about their son’s medical condition that may never change.

The wife of AFL superstar Gary Ablett has revealed they may never hear their son speak, as she opened up about his medical condition.

Jordan Ablett and her husband went public in 2020 with Levi’s rare degenerative disease, and have shared multiple updates about his progress since, including the tragic revelation he faces a “very short life expectancy”.

Speaking to VWeekend, available in the Herald Sun, Jordan said Levi has never spoken and, according to doctors, may never speak.

“It’s really difficult from a practical point of view but also really difficult just being his mum and not being able to hear his voice or know what he needs,” Jordan said.

“When he gets upset, I have to guess what the problem is.

“It’s also difficult because I’d love to just hear his thoughts, have conversation with my boy and for us to know that he understands how much we love him.”

Levi, three, has a condition making him vulnerable to food or drink entering his lungs, and continues to receive treatment.

Jordan — an ambassador for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal — said respiratory health is “one of the biggest concerns” for Levi and he is more susceptible to picking up viruses.

“He also is at high risk of aspirating which can be detrimental to him. Because of this we’ve always had to blitz every bit of food for him, making sure it’s as smooth as possible so that it goes down correctly,” Jordan told VWeekend.

“Aspirating causes lung damage and increases your risk of pneumonia.”

Happy as Larry.

Jordan Ablett and Levi enjoying the footy. Pic: Michael Klein

Speaking on a special charity edition of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire last year, Geelong champion Gary, who retired at the end of the 2020 AFL season, opened up about Levi’s condition.

“He is a beautiful boy with a pretty serious condition,” Ablett said at the time. “We are seeing some improvement, and Levi is having physiotherapy each day.

“The great thing about Levi is that he is a very determined boy and always happy. He brings so much joy to our lives.”

Jordan told The Significant Others podcast in 2021 about the moment Levi was diagnosed and the shattering realisation that his life was at risk.

“I just remember sitting with Gaz in that meeting and when they said it I just remember absolutely breaking down,” she said.

“It’s one thing to receive a diagnosis which just confirms that Levi has a rare and degenerative disease. However, it’s another thing to understand that it is life threatening and that’s like a whole other ball game and a whole other situation in itself because that stuff you just can’t prepare for.

“There is a very short life expectancy which is why I constantly say to people when they ask about Levi that we are literally just taking it day by day because we have no idea what the future holds.”

Read the full interview with Jordan Ablett in VWeekend, available with the Herald Sun

The Abletts are taking each day as it comes. Picture: Supplied