‘Still feels like yesterday’: Lisa Curry’s sorrowful tribute to her daughter two years on from her death

Content warning: this article deals with disordered eating, alcoholism and mental health, and may be triggering for some readers.

Moving on from a death of a loved one is a difficult process, and for former Olympian Lisa Curry, the tragic loss of her eldest daughter Jaimi Lee Kenny two years ago still haunts her to this day.

Taking to social media, the mother of three shared a heartbreaking message alongside a five-minute video montage of her late daughter who tragically passed away in September 2020 following her years-long battle with eating disorders and alcoholism.

“2 years and it still feels like yesterday. How the time passes so quickly and yet feels so still? There is not one day that we don’t think about our baby girl. Not one,” Curry writes at the beginning of her post.

“Her beautiful eyes, her smile, laugh, generosity, dreams, as well as her sadness, her tears…. all rolled up into a 33 year life.

“Forever young, forever beautiful, forever in our minds and in our hearts.

“We miss you dearly Jaimi.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Lisa Curry AO (@lisacurry)

Curry continues to express that some days she feels okay then suddenly “her heart aches and the tears just pour out” before telling her fans that this year her family did something a little different to honour Jaimi.

“My friends and I walked up Mt Coolum with the rainbow balloon which Flynn chose,” she said.

“And at exactly the time Jaimi took her last breath, I blew some of her ashes into the wind, some of which blew right back in our face. Which made us laugh.”

Curry ended her post by saying she recognises people are mourning over the loss of a loved one every day, and sends them “love and strength”.

Many of Curry’s fans were moved by her heartfelt words and took to the comment section to offer their condolences.

“2 years already. so much has happened in your family in that time and I’m sure it was due to your very special Angel Jaimi sending her love to you all earthbound.”

“It’s heartbreaking, the pain doesn’t go away It’s coming up to 3 years of the passing of my 18 year old daughter to cancer. Thinking of you, hang on tight to your beautiful memories.Xx.”

“My heart aches for you. I know loss and it is sometimes hard to breathe. I like to believe the young and beautiful are forever young and beautiful and look down wishing they could wipe the tears away. Rest in eternal peace Jaimi.”

Jaimi’s younger sister Morgan Gruell also took to Instagram to share a touching tribute to her beloved sister.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Morgan Gruell (@morgangruell)

“2 years without you. We say goodnight to you and ma ma in the stars every night,” Morgan’s caption reads.

“Flynn often asks about you and wishes so badly that he could talk to you and give you a cuddle because he loves you so much, those are his words. I just know Taj and Kit would love you as you would love them.

“Taj looks a bit like you at certain times, in his cheeky smile I see you.

“I often get the urge to call or message you and ask you to come somewhere with me and the boys and I then realise you won’t answer. I hate that you are not here. I love and miss you forever.”

Since Jaimi’s passing, Curry has spoken openly about her struggles over the loss of her firstborn, having previously told the ABC she had been in a constant state of mourning since Jaimi’s death.

“Jaimi was only 33, she had a whole life to live,” she said at the time.

“I haven’t been able to talk about it because you can see what it does to me. All I’ve done for two years is sit and cry and eat… you know I feel like s**t.

“If it’s any consolation, Grant and I were able to be with her when she took her last breath.

“We were there when she took her first breath and we were there when she took her last.”

MENTAL HEALTH DISCLAIMER: If you or anyone you know needs help: Lifeline — 13 11 14; MensLine Australia — 1300 789 978; BeyondBlue — 1300 224 636; Suicide Call Back Service — 1300 659 467; Headspace — 1800 650 890; Kids Helpline — 1800 551 800