EOTB’s Ashley Cain reveals his baby daughter Azaylia’s leukaemia has returned

Ashley Cain was left in tears on Tuesday as he marked the moment his daughter Azaylia left hospital to go home for the first time in five months. 

The Ex On The Beach star, 30, described it as a ‘miracle blindsided by heartbreak’ after doctors delivered the news her leukaemia had returned- just 10 minutes before the family were due to leave the children’s ward. 

Six-month-old Azaylia is battling a rare and aggressive form of leukaemia and had recently undergone a stem cell transplant. 

Taking to Instagram, Ashley shared the moment of Azaylia ‘ringing the bell’ so he and his partner Safiyya Vorajee could finally take her home, with Azaylia continuing her treatment as an outpatient.

He penned: ‘Today was supposed to be a day of unquestionable happiness. However, it turned out like most days on this journey; A miracle blindsided by heartbreak! 

‘We got told a few days ago that’s Azaylia would be ringing the bell today and coming home with us, as a family to resume treatment 2 days per week as an outpatient. 

‘However, 10 minutes before the moment we have been praying for over the last 5 months… 

‘We got urgently informed that Azaylia’s leukaemia had returned. We crumbled and cancelled the celebration as we felt broken and numb to the core before seeing her beautiful face telling us, the show must go on and us then realising how far our little girl has come and how much she deserves this moment. 

‘She has battled against the odds, she has overcome every obstacle in her path and she has done it all with remarkable spirit and the biggest smile on her face! 

‘For now we are enjoying precious moments at home until we return to hospital on Friday! Thank you for your support and please keep our beautiful daughter in your prayers!’

The moving video showed the corridor lined with nurses and doctors applauding the family as they prepared to go home. 

Through tears Ashley said: ‘I want to say thank you for all the care you’ve given us. For looking after her but also just the care for us has been amazing. 

‘We got some news today that Azaylia’s leukaemia has come back but that just means that we stay positive and we get back to ring that second bell and get out of here.’ 

The couple had faced an agonising two week wait to find out whether the stem cell transplant managed to clear out the leukaemia from her bone marrow. 

Ashley said he was devastated to learn Azaylia was at a higher risk of complications going into the transplant after her cancer returned, following two rounds of chemotherapy. 

When Azaylia was diagnosed with leukaemia she had a soaring white cell count of 200, and also had tumours on her lungs, kidneys, and stomach.

Ashley revealed that a normal person’s white cell count is five, while adults who are suffering from the blood cancer tend to have a white cell count of 40, so it was alarming that Azalyia’s was so high. 

The television personality explained that being told the news left him a ‘broken man’, and he claimed it was an ‘absolute miracle’ that she has been able to fight the cancer. 

Through publicising Azaylia’s battle, Ashley has helped the NHS get 80,000 people to sign up to become stem cell donors in just 48 hours after he appealed for help.  

Ashley revealed 80,000 people became stem cell donors 48 hours after he appealed for the public’s help amid his daughter’s health battle. 

Saying that he was ‘forever grateful’ to the members of the public who had ordered test kits to be added to the stem cell register, Ashley claimed the charities usually get 30-40,000 people registering in a single year.    

Ashley, who made his appeal to find a donor on social media, said he thought it was ‘beautiful’ how people could come together for a good cause in spite of negativity that is often prevalent online.