Gary and Jordan Ablett have a nervous wait ahead as their three-year-old son Levi recovers from two respiratory illnesses.
The Abletts were returning from a vacation to the Gold Coast when they noticed Levi was ill and immediately sought medical attention.
Jordan, 29, took to Instagram on Thursday to update her followers on little Levi’s recovery.
Gary and Jordan Ablett have a nervous wait ahead after their three-year-old son Levi was diagnosed with two respiratory conditions at the same time. All pictured
“The little man was rushed to the hospital yesterday morning after fighting something for almost three weeks,” she wrote.
“As it turned out, his small body was being afflicted with two respiratory illnesses at the same time.
“He’s rested and is being cared for by great doctors. He slept well (though not poor dad) and is feeling better. Our little champion!’
Levi is the eldest child of AFL legend Gary Ablett Jr., 38, and his wife Jordan.
“The little man was rushed to the hospital yesterday morning after fighting something for almost three weeks,” she wrote. “As it turned out, his small body was being afflicted with two respiratory illnesses at the same time
Levi was diagnosed with a rare degenerative disease in 2020, leaving him with a reduced ability to fight disease naturally compared to other children.
Jordan, who has not revealed what illness her son has been diagnosed with, has previously revealed that Levi is unlikely to ever learn to speak.
“It’s really difficult from a practical point of view, but also really difficult just being your mom and not being able to hear his voice or knowing what he needs,” she told The Herald Sun in an emotional interview.
“If he gets upset, I have to guess what the problem is,” continued Jordan, who has been married to AFL legend Gary since 2016.
“It’s also difficult because I’d love to just hear his thoughts, have a chat with my boy and know he understands how much we love him.”
Jordan continued, “He’s been resting and being cared for by great doctors. He slept well (though not poor dad) and is feeling better. Our little champion!’
In an interview with The Significant Others podcast in March last year, Jordan opened up about the family’s heartbreak after Levi was diagnosed with a degenerative disease.
She said it took Levi a long time to be diagnosed with the unspecified illness and described the devastation she and Gary felt after learning the condition was “life-threatening.”
“All I remember is sitting at that meeting with Gaz, and when they said it, all I remember is absolutely breaking down,” she said.
“Life expectancy is very short, which is why I keep telling people when they ask about Levi that we’re literally just taking it day by day because we have no idea what the future holds,” she continued.
Jordan, who has not revealed what illness her son has been diagnosed with, has previously revealed that Levi is unlikely to ever learn to speak
After seeing a number of pediatricians, Jordan said it was Geelong Football Club’s team doctor who finally put her in touch with the right person.
She said this new pediatrician “got the ball rolling,” and after months of hesitation, the couple finally had some answers.
Jordan said she and Gary were initially concerned when they realized Levi wasn’t hitting the same milestones as other kids his age.
They decided to go public with the little boy’s condition because they didn’t have to lie when people asked about their son.
“People would just say things like, ‘Levi has to run around now.’ It’s so nice to receive comments like this, but when you’re on the receiving end and you know everything that’s going on, it’s awkward,” she confessed.
“People would just say things like, ‘Levi has to run around now.’ It’s so nice to receive comments like this, but when you’re on the receiving end and you know everything that’s going on, it’s awkward,” she confessed
“We don’t want to lie and say, ‘Yeah, he’s running around’ because he wasn’t running around.”
Jordan said Levi’s condition has only made the family more aware of how precious every moment they have together is.
Ablett appeared on Channel Nine’s TV quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire in May last year and spoke about Levi’s disease.
“He’s a beautiful boy with a pretty serious condition,” the two-time AFL Premiership winner with the Geelong Cats told host Eddie McGuire.
“We are seeing some improvement and Levi is getting physical therapy every day.
“The great thing about Levi is that he is a very determined boy and always happy. He brings so much joy into our lives.”
Jordan said it took a long time for Levi to be diagnosed with the unspecified illness
“He’s a beautiful boy with a pretty serious condition,” Gary said last year. “We are seeing some improvement and Levi is getting physical therapy every day.” Jordan and Gary took Levi to meet The Wiggles in person last year (pictured)
In July, Jordan shared the moment she realized something was wrong with the couple’s son.
In a lengthy Instagram post, Jordan said alarms were raised when three-year-old son Levi, who has a degenerative disease, was unable to sit up during a family photo shoot.
“Levi was a few months past his first birthday and on set it was becoming clear every day that something was wrong,” she wrote.
“I remember the photographer asking me if Levi could stand/sit and I said no and as we kept taking photos I was like ‘that’s not right’.
In July, Jordan shared the moment she realized something was wrong with the couple’s son. In a lengthy Instagram post, Jordan said alarms were raised when Levi couldn’t sit up during a family photo shoot
“When I tried to get him into a standing position he put no weight on his legs at all, he was super limp in all positions, had really poor head control and held up most of the time (if not all of the time). his hands clenched tightly.’
She continued: “I still cherish all my photos with my boy but I have to say there is an air of sadness and disappointment when I look at some because I don’t understand how things have gone under the radar for so long stayed.
“Because I hadn’t had a child before Levi, I couldn’t compare and didn’t know what was typical of a baby and what wasn’t.”
Ablett appeared on Channel Nine’s TV quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire in May last year and spoke about Levi’s disease
Jordan continued, “If you have the slightest doubt about your child’s development, whether it’s just a thought or an unrelenting gut feeling like we do, I encourage you to raise your concerns with a professional and stand if your concerns remain.” .
“If there’s a problem, you’re the parent who knew and put the baby first because you love them and want them to be okay.
“If there’s no problem, then you’re the parent who was unsure and puts the baby first because you love them and want them to be okay. There’s no harm in asking questions and seeking professional support,” she concluded.
Gary and Jordan welcomed a second child, daughter Grace, late last year.
“Time flies and we can’t remember life without it,” Jordan said at the time.
“She has fit perfectly into this family, her sparkling smile and personality are really starting to shine through.”
Gary and Jordan welcomed a second child, daughter Grace, in November 2021