Latest news with #JaimiCurry
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Olympian Lisa Curry makes a heartbreaking plea following the death of her daughter as she recalls their final moments together
Former Olympian Lisa Curry has made a heartbreaking plea in honour of her daughter Jaimi who died in 2020 at age 33 after a long battle with alcoholism and an eating disorder. Lisa, 63, is asking for volunteers to join a new genetic study led by Queensland researchers who hope to identify eating disorders at birth. Appearing on Nine News on Tuesday Lisa recalled her tragic loss. 'She just sort of took a breath and then her hands went cold, that was it,' Lisa said. Explaining her passion for the fresh plea for answers to such common eating disorders such anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder Lisa remembered Jaimi's own anguish about her condition. 'She'd say, "Where did it come from? Why am I like this?"' Lisa said. Nine reported that 4000 Australian volunteers are required for the study, while there is a target for 100,000 to take part worldwide. The study will include the collection of saliva samples in order to identify genetic markers with the research taking place at the DNA facility at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR). Professor Nick Martin of QIMR explained in the Nine story that genetic disposition plays a large component in eating disorders. It comes after Lisa revealed she was in 'recovery' following the tragic death of her daughter Jaimi. In January last year, Lisa said she had finally gotten herself back to the gym after '3 1/2 years of sadness and grief'. Her recent sessions with a personal trainer were necessitated by her hip replacement surgery last year. Lisa injured herself in 2023 while husky dog sledding in Yukon, Canada. She slipped on the ice which caused her to fall and break her hip. Jaimi, who Lisa shared with ex-husband Grant Kenny, died in September 2020 after a long battle with alcoholism and an eating disorder. Lisa and former Australian Ironman Grant Kenny we d in 1984, separated in 2009, and welcomed three children together: son Jett, and daughters Morgan and Jaimi. The athlete recently revealed she has officially given up alcohol after suffering a terrifying health scare while holidaying in Fiji. She shared a raw and deeply personal update to Instagram last month, posting a photo of herself lying in a hospital bed in Queensland, looking weary. 'Just a little overnight stay in hospital,' Lisa captioned the photo, before taking her followers on a sobering journey through her long battle with serious heart issues - and her decision to give up booze for good. 'Seventeen years ago... I had Myocarditis, 22,000 irregular heartbeats a day, a mitral valve prolapse (hereditary from my mum), a fractured sternum (from a chiropractic appointment),' Lisa began. 'Then a defibrillator, an infection, a month's stay in hospital on heavy antibiotics - and then finally home, living a different life.' The legendary athlete revealed she had to permanently give up alcohol for her health. 'I decided to give up alcohol early last year. But while in Fiji last October I decided to have a cocktail on our last night. It was super syrupy and sugary and not 10 minutes later I went off with a bang!! Not a nice feeling,' she shared. Her defibrillator was triggered after her heart rate spiked to a dangerous 270 beats per minute - a terrifying episode that cemented her decision to quit drinking entirely. Lisa, who also revealed she now experiences atrial fibrillation (AF), urged her followers to always take heart symptoms seriously - even if they seem minor at the time.
News.com.au
20-05-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Lisa Curry's plea five years after daughter's death
A Triple Olympian who tragically lost her adult daughter five years ago is appealing for others to come forward so the root of the illness can be found. Lisa Curry lost her 33-year-old daughter, Jaimi, in 2020 due to long term health challenges — including anorexia nervosa, which she had been battling for 18 years. Now, she is using her voice to encourage 4000 adults with lived experiences of an eating disorder to take part in Eating Disorders Genetics Initiative 2 (EDGI2). The study aims to understand the genes that influences a person's risk factor when it comes to developing an eating disorder. Curry, 63, said she is telling Jaimi's story to prevent another parent from losing their child like she did. 'It manipulated and tormented her, drained her of strength, and made it excruciating for our family,' she said. 'She was a beautiful young woman who had a quiet, fierce, and ongoing battle inside her. It broke my heart to see someone who I loved so much, go through so much pain. 'It's not until you lose someone that you, you know, you hold tighter. You love more; you want more.' Curry said she thought the family had tried everything but nothing worked, adding there was no quick fix for eating disorders. The former competition swimmer said there was too little known about eating disorders — a myriad of illnesses that impacts over a million Australians. Curry said it is still among the most stigmatised mental health conditions, and that those going through it deserve answers. She said the stigma prevents people from getting help. Elise, 39, has struggled with anorexia for 23 years. At the age of 12, a family member commented on her 'pot belly'. After spiralling into restrictive eating and compulsive exercise, the teenager was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa two years later – an illness that consumed every aspect of her teenage years. And, due to a history of mental illness in her family, it suggests a predisposition. 'It may have seemed harmless to them, but it was quietly devastating for me. It was a seed of self-consciousness I carried around for years,' she said. Elise recalled she would do any type of exercise possible in a bid to create control. 'I went for long runs, spent hours at the gym, did sit-ups in my room – any form of exercise I could possibly do, I did.' Now, she is four years into recovery — after experiencing two relapses previously. She said: 'EDGI2 is so important to me, because the idea that we could identify someone who has a genetic predisposition to an eating disorder, and prevent them from enduring what I did, makes me very hopeful.' Professor Nick Martin, who is the head of the Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer, and Lead Australian EDGI2 Investigator, said the study builds on a previous investigation, which found the first eight genes linked to anorexia. 'This discovery was completely unexpected, and requires urgent replication and further study to fully understand the pathways leading to anorexia nervosa,' Professor Martin, who is based in Brisbane, said. 'That's why a larger sample size is crucial, which is the aim of EDGI2. While rigorous research shows genes account for more than half the risk of eating disorders, we still lack understanding and accurate tools to predict their progression, or response to treatment.' He said this study will have a large scale, with people from all over the world — which is needed as eating disorders impact people regardless of age, gender or cultural background.
