Footy legend Gary Ablett Jr’s wife gives a rare update on their ill son Levi – six years after diagnosis that turned their world upside down

Levi Ablett diagnosed with Menkes disease in 2020

The wife of footy legend Gary Ablett Jr has shared an inspiring update on their son Levi, almost six years after the youngster was diagnosed with Menkes disease.

Levi celebrated his seventh birthday in January and although his condition still requires the same level of care, he is a happy child with a zest for life.

‘He’s doing great,’ Jordan Ablett told News Corp.

‘Levi has never lost his big smile and is still showing us how to be present and live in the moment.’

Speaking on the Significant Others podcast, the Abletts recalled their devastation in May 2020 after learning Levi’s condition was ‘life threatening’.

‘I just remember sitting with Gaz in that meeting and when they said it I just remember absolutely breaking down,’ the mother-of-three said.

The wife of footy legend Gary Ablett Jr has shared an inspiring update on their son Levi, almost six years after the youngster was diagnosed with Menkes disease
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The wife of footy legend Gary Ablett Jr has shared an inspiring update on their son Levi, almost six years after the youngster was diagnosed with Menkes disease

Levi celebrated his seventh birthday in January and although his condition still requires the same level of care, he is a happy child with a zest for life (pictured, with his dad Gary Ablett Jr)
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Levi celebrated his seventh birthday in January and although his condition still requires the same level of care, he is a happy child with a zest for life (pictured, with his dad Gary Ablett Jr)

Children with Menkes disease struggle to absorb and transport copper, an essential mineral in the human body - their development is delayed and they have a reduced life expectancy
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Children with Menkes disease struggle to absorb and transport copper, an essential mineral in the human body – their development is delayed and they have a reduced life expectancy

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

After seeing a series of paediatricians, it was the Geelong Football Club’s team doctor who finally put the couple in contact with the right person.

That paediatrician ‘got the ball rolling’, and eventually the Abletts had the answers about Levi they desperately craved.

Children with Menkes disease struggle to absorb and transport copper, an essential mineral in the human body.

As a result, their development is delayed.

Footy legend Ablett was destined to follow in the footsteps of his father Garry ‘God’ Ablett, who has since described his son as the greatest midfielder to ever play the game.

Ablett first left fans wanting more due to his freakish on-field skills when he made his AFL debut as a baby-faced 18-year-old with Geelong in 2002.

He won two premierships with the Cats in 2007 and 2009 before he linked up with the Gold Coast Suns when they joined the AFL competition in 2011.

‘The Little Master’ returned to the Cats in 2018, before hanging up his playing boots two years later.

Ablett, 41, also recently made a cameo appearance for the Glenorchy Magpies against North Hobart in Tasmania’s Southern Football League.

‘I was really impressed with how skilful the players were,’ he said.

‘It was just nice to be back out there… unfortunately the head was willing, but the legs weren’t working at times.’