‘The closest to heaven that I could get’: Lisa Curry’s ‘challenging’ journey to release daughter’s ashes
Content Warning: this article deals with eating disorders, alcoholism and mental health, and may be triggering for some readers.
Former Olympian Lisa Curry has detailed the “challenging” journey she embarked upon to release some of her late daughter Jaimi’s ashes in a “meaningful” place.
Curry, 60, took to Instagram on Tuesday, November 1 to share with her followers that she had scaled Mount Kosciuszko to honour her late daughter “by taking her ashes and dried petals from her funeral to amazing places around the country and the world”.
Jaimi was only 33 years old when she tragically passed away in 2020 after reportedly suffering from a long battle with eating disorders and alcoholism.
“I needed something to help me find focus again and get out of bed but my main purpose was to take my daughter’s ashes to the top of Mt Kosciusko,” Curry wrote alongside her post.
“I booked this trip to hike with my friend Glenn Azar. Covid delayed the trip several times but we finally hiked last weekend.
“I can honestly say it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. My beautiful friend Christine didn’t leave my side which I was very grateful for. The water is my comfort zone, not mountains.
“The conditions were very challenging, plenty of snow, ice, rain, sleet, baby hail (sago) , 60-100kmh winds, we had it all.
“Once we headed out, we were committed. No turning back. One step at a time.
“The second day, I carried the emotion of what I was there for. I’m also on beta blockers for AF so my heart rate was high but the medication works to keep it down. It feels like a full body of heavy lactic acid.
“There was one last hill to “walk” up, (it was a complete struggle for me), I could see a blurry Glenn standing there waiting for me, every step I was getting closer but couldn’t see through my tears.
“An overwhelming sense of achievement and emotional anxiety with what I was about to do.
“The wind was extreme, and took the balloon quickly, but it landed on the snow not far away, so Glenn went and picked it up and let it go again.
“I honour our Jaimi by taking her ashes and dried petals from her funeral to amazing places around the country and the world.
“This spot on top of Mt Kosciusko is the closest to heaven that I could get so it was very meaningful to me.
“Everyone has their own way of honouring those that are special to them.
“Fly free beautiful angel. Never forgotten. xxx.”
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Curry’s followers were quick to share their admiration for the swimming legend’s incredible feat while offering their messages of support.
“Admiring you beautiful Lisa and reading this through tears. I can’t even begin to imagine the heartbreak but it’s also amazing at the same time .. the closest place to heaven and a special place on Earth, among the other places that are special to you for the same reason, in honour of your beautiful, never to be forgotten daughter xx,” wrote one follower.
“I’m sitting in a cafe in Hanoi and the tears are streaming down my face. That is honestly one of the most moving things I’ve ever read. How beautiful that you could get close to heaven as you said at the top of the mountain. What a special tribute to your daughter.”
“I’m overwhelmed by how emotional this must have been. I’m sitting in my lounge crying for you, and also acknowledging that you’re going to great lengths of physical pain and distances to keep the promise you made to Jaimi. Such a beautiful way to honour her xoxo,” commented another.
“You are a beautiful person Lisa to do this for your daughter. I bet she is looking down and thinking wow what an amazing mum I have to do this for me.”
“Wow good on you Lisa doing that in your daughter’s memory. I think about what you’ve been through often. Take care.”
“That’s heartbreaking and beautiful all at the same time.”
Curry previously took to social media to share that she had scattered some of her daughter’s ashes in a similar fashion atop Mount Coolum, alongside a five-minute video montage of her late daughter.
“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 wrote 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.”
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Curry shared that some days she feels okay then suddenly “her heart aches and the tears just pour out” before detailing the touching tribute she paid to her late daughter.
“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.”
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
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