THE man responsible for inflicting permanent brain damage on Cabarita surfer Sam Ford will remain in jail after an appeal to reduce his sentence was rejected in Brisbane Supreme Court yesterday.

Damian Robert James Ford was jailed in February after a single punch in October of 2009 left Sam unable to walk, talk, eat, see or hear properly or care for himself.

In handing down her decision, Court of Appeal president Margaret McMurdo said while the six-year sentence with parole after two years would be a heavy burden for Ford and his family, it was far less than the life-long burden inflicted on Sam. Ms McCurdo said Ford's apparent remorse was not enough to reduce the sentence.

“This case was another heart-wrenching example of the calamitous impact on the lives of two young people, and their families and loved ones, through alcohol-fuelled gratuitous street violence in the form of a single, powerful punch,” she said.

“The injuries the male complainant received from the applicant's single, but forceful punch and the resulting impact with the ground are life-threatening, permanent and grossly disabling.

“The punishment must reflect these dreadful injuries.”

After the appeal was rejected Sam's mother Margaret spoke of the upheaval her family had faced knowing Ford was attempting to have his sentence reduced.

“He never approached us directly or indirectly to apologise and we don't believe he was ever remorseful,” Mrs Ford said.

“He doesn't know what hard is compared to the daily hardships facing our son.

“He's going to be fighting for a decent life for the rest of his life.

“I just hope that we don't have to do this again and we can get on with Sam's rehabilitation.

“He's improving and everything is a positive.”

She said Sam's days were filled with visits from loyal mates and the unrelenting love of his two brothers and his father.

“The boys are so good at keeping Sam laughing all the time and Mike (father) works so hard with him.”

Mrs Ford said the family had recently taken Sam to the beach with his brothers for the first time since the incident.

“The boys held him on either side and told him to wiggle his toes in the water,” she said.

“It was so amazing to see him so happy.”

The family is seeking funding to buy Sam a motorised wheelchair to make beach visits easier.

Damian Ford will be eligible for parole in February, 2013.