‘I am broken and hurting’: Ashley Cain shares his heartache over daughter Azaylia’s death as he thanks fans for their support and vows to honour her name by helping other sick children
- Azaylia, eight months, lost her fight over the weekend after bravely battling acute myeloid leukaemia
- Ashley and his partner Safiyya’s daughter underwent four rounds of chemotherapy in her battle against the disease
- They launched a fundraising drive launched in her name raising more than £1million
- The money was to fund a trip to Singapore for treatment – but their baby girl became too unwell
- Last month, they took Azyalia home after doctors revealed there was no further treatment available
- For help and support caring for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, please contact Together for Short Lives on 0808 8088 100 or visit www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk
Ashley Cain has shared his agony over his daughter Azaylia’s death in a heartbreaking Instagram post on Saturday.
The grieving father, 30, told how he was ‘broken and hurting’ following her passing last week aged eight months, following a brave battle with acute myeloid leukaemia.
In the message posted on his stories, the former Ex On The Beach star thanked fans for their support, while vowing to honour Azaylia’s name by continuing to help other children and families facing their own battles.
Devastating: Ashley Cain has shared his agony over his daughter Azaylia’s death in a heartbreaking Instagram post on Saturday
He penned: ‘I wanted to take this time to give thanks for all of your love, care and support for Azaylia throughout her battle and still now for us as a family.
‘I am broken and hurting more and more everyday right now.
‘But I made a promise to my daughter that I would keep her name alive by continuing to help other children, adults and their families during their own battles and I will honour that promise until I see her again.’
‘Likkle Lion’: The grieving father, 30, told how he was ‘broken and hurting’ following her passing last week aged eight months following a brave battle with acute myeloid leukaemia
Pain: In the message posted on his stories, the former Ex On The Beach star thanked fans for their support, while vowing to continue Azaylia’s name by continuing to help other children and families facing their own battles
Ashley’s emotional message follows on from his grieving girlfriend Safiyya’s post in which she spoke about her heartache since their daughter Azaylia passed away last week.
Taking to Instagram on Saturday, Safiyya, 35, told her followers how often Azaylia, who was diagnosed at just two months, enters her thoughts.
Writing on her Instagram stories, Safiyya said of her daughter: ‘Your so beautiful I think about you all day and night [sic].’
Unforgettable: Ashley Cain’s grieving girlfriend Safiyya also spoke about her heartache since their daughter Azaylia passed away last week
Alongside the touching message, the grieving mother also shared an adorable picture of her baby.
Happy in a pink Mini Mouse baby bouncer, Azaylia smiled and waved at her doting mum in the photo.
The post comes after Safiyya revealed on Friday that she is struggling to get out of bed after her daughter’s untimely death.
‘Your so beautiful I think about you all day and night’: The grieving mother also shared an adorable picture of her baby smiling and waving
Taking to her Instagram stories, Safiyya wrote: ‘Trying to get myself out of bed in the morning has never felt so hard. The pain that hits me when my eyes open is unbearable, I just want this all to have been a dream. I miss you Azaylia.’
In another post, Safiyya uploaded her final photo cuddling her daughter and said: ‘1 week ago this was all happening…
‘You are so incredible Azaylia, you have changed my life. Honestly I feel so proud of you, I am lost without you but I know you’re with me close all the time.’
Devastating: The post comes after Safiyya revealed on Friday that she is struggling to get out of bed after her daughter’s untimely death
Stay strong: In another post, Safiyya uploaded her final photo cuddling her daughter and said: ‘1 week ago this was all happening. You are so incredible Azaylia, you have changed my life’
Azaylia battled acute myeloid leukaemia for the majority of her life and was diagnosed just two months after she was born.
Ashley confirmed the tragic news on social media last Sunday, writing: ‘Rest In Paradise Princess. I will always hold you in my heart until I can hold you again in heaven ❤️ #AzayliaDiamondCain.’
The couple recently raised more than £1.5million to fund a trip to Singapore for life-saving transplant, but their little one became too unwell and doctors discovered tumours throughout her body.
Following her death, fans continued to donate to the GoFundMe Page and have so far raised the total past £1.6million.
RIP: The Ex On The Beach star, 30, announced last weekend their beloved eight-month-old daughter had tragically passed away from acute myeloid leukaemia (pictured last month)
Azaylia – who inspired her father’s powerful ‘let’s go champ’ message – underwent four rounds of chemotherapy during her fight and was recently nominated for a Pride Of Britain Award by thousands of supporters around the world.
On Tuesday, Safiyya shared another heartfelt tribute to Azaylia and said ‘not seeing her beautiful smile hurts so deep inside’ in a heartbreakingly-honest message.
Beautician Safiyya and her ex-footballer partner Ashley had been updating fans on their baby girl’s health condition since she was diagnosed with the rare form of blood cancer at just two months old.
The nurse wrote: ‘Morning time not seeing your beautiful smile hurts so deep inside, Azaylia your beautiful so pure, I miss you so so much words fail to explain the heartache.
Tributes: The couple recently raised more than £1.5 million to fund a trip to Singapore for life-saving transplant and following her death, fans continued to donate
‘I am so proud of you, everyday I will carry you with me in my heart, I no your looking down on me, & all the lessons you’ve taught me I will keep that with me forever. Thankyou for everything baby girl x x x.’ (sic)
It comes after Ashley wrote a lengthy post thanking his baby girl for ‘saving his life and giving him purpose’.
Ashley shared an image of little Azaylia’s hand clasped in his with the tot wearing a personalised baby grow.
Heartbreaking: The grieving mother and her ex-footballer partner Ashley had been updating fans on their baby girl’s battle with acute myeloid leukaemia
He wrote: ‘My heart is shattered. You gave my life purpose, my face a smile, filled my heart with love and my soul with pride.
‘I can’t put into words my sadness and pain, there aren’t words to describe it. I love you with every ounce of my body and I miss you so much already.
‘You made me a better man. You made me the person I’ve always wanted to be. You’ve taught me more in your 8 months than I’ve learned my whole life.
‘I don’t know why you’ve been taken away from me and my heart aches in your absence.
‘But I promise you that your name with live on. I will carry your name across every ocean, along every road, to the top of every mountain and across the whole globe.
Moving: Ashley, meanwhile, penned a lengthy post thanking his baby girl for ‘saving his life and giving him purpose’
‘Your name will live, your legacy will be remembered and I will seek peace in living as your vessel to continue inspiring, giving strength, spreading joy and saving lives in your name, with your spirit, as your father until we meet again.
‘You saved my life, you really did. With my second chance, I make a promise to you that I will make yours live on in our hearts, our thoughts and our prayers.
‘I am blessed, I am honoured and I am privileged to be your father. I would go through all of the pain again and again. Because what you gave me in those 8 months will live with me for eternity.
‘Oh, oobee doo. I wanna be like you. I wanna walk like you, Talk like you, too. Azaylia Diamond Cain. Rest In Peace Princess. 10.08.20 – 24.04.21.’
Tragic: The couple were utterly devoted to their daughter, who battled the rare and aggressive cancer with such courage she was nicknamed ‘Likkle lion’ (pictured earlier this year)
A timeline of Azaylia’s six-month leukaemia battle
October 2020: Ashley emotionally revealed his daughter had been diagnosed with a ‘rare and aggressive’ form of leukaemia, which he described as an ‘uphill battle’.
Heartbreaking: Ashley emotionally revealed his daughter had been diagnosed with a ‘rare and aggressive’ form of leukaemia in October
Azaylia was turned away by doctors three times and prescribed laxatives and a nasal spray when her breathing was impeded, shortly before her diagnosis.
By the end of the month, the brave child faced her second surgery and 16th chemotherapy-related treatment in less than two weeks.
November 2020: Azaylia’s hair started to fall out just weeks after she was diagnosed.
Doctors informed Ashley and his family that the tot needed a bone marrow transplant and blood donation.
Due to her Caribbean, Burmese, Indian and English background, the footballer said it was very difficult to find a match for a transplant.
Azaylia was brought home for a few days before her second round of chemotherapy.
December 2020: 80,000 people became stem cell donors 48 hours after Ashley appealed for the public’s help.
So sad: Azaylia’s hair started to fall out just weeks after she was diagnosed in November
January 2021: The TV star confirmed a stem cell donor had been found for his baby daughter Azaylia.
She received her stem cell transplant but her cancer sadly returned following a third round of chemotherapy.
February 2021: Azaylia responded well to her stem cell treatment and doctors were impressed with ‘how strong she was’.
She underwent further surgery to discover whether her leukaemia had gone. Later in the month, doctors revealed her cancer had returned.
March 2021: They were told there were ‘very few options’ to help the baby’s condition before she had another bone marrow test. She relapsed by the end of the month and underwent her fourth round of chemotherapy.
Ashley surpassed his target goal of £1million after he set up a GoFundMe to pay for life-saving treatment for his daughter Azaylia.
Heartbreaking: Healthcare professionals revealed Azaylia only had a few days to live as they discovered tumours all over her body in April
The former Ex On The Beach star took to social media to ask fans for help in donating, explaining the treatment his daughter needed is available in Singapore.
Ashley described the treatment, CAR-T therapy, as ‘the only option to save Azaylia’s life’ and said he and partner Safiyya may have to fly out in a matter of weeks, adding it will take a minimum of one year.
Celebrities such as former TOWIE star Kate Ferdinand, Love Island’s Molly-Mae Hague and PrettyLittleThing founder Umar Kamani all donated.
Despite efforts from around the world, pharmaceutical companies could not release the life-saving drugs needed to beat his daughter Azaylia’s battle.
Tender moments: Her parents bathed her in the hospital for a final time before they returned home later that month
April 2020: Healthcare professionals revealed Azaylia only had a few days to live as they discovered tumours in her stomach, her spleen, her liver and her kidneys, in addition to tumours in her brain.
Her parents bathed her in the hospital for a final time before they returned home.
They marked her turning eight months old by having moulds made of her feet, and Azaylia was met with support from the London Underground and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.
She received life-prolonging transfusion after her condition caused profuse bleeding and public figures joined the nationwide clap held in her honour.
Scary: The influencer’s ‘fragile’ daughter stopped breathing and suffered seizures before Ashley confirmed her death
Azaylia was nominated for a Pride of Britain award and had a plane draw a heart in the sky for her.
The tot was put on oxygen to aid her sleep, and struggled to open her eyes due to swelling.
Scam artists set up fake Facebook pages in her name, with Ashley admitting: ‘We feel really sad it has come to this’.
Azaylia returned to hospital for another platelet transfusion a few days before she died.
The influencer’s ‘fragile’ daughter stopped breathing and suffered seizures before Ashley confirmed her death.
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