Ashley Cain has returned home with his daughter Azaylia for a few days, after she completed her first round of chemotherapy amid her leukaemia battle.
The Ex On The Beach star, 30, took to Instagram to share an update with fans on his 14-week-old’s progress on Friday, sharing that Azaylia’s doctors said she could return to the family home for a short time before her long-term stay in hospital.
Posting a video with Azaylia while relaxing on a bed, he began: ‘Just letting you know Azaylia has had the chance to come home for a few days.
Home: EOTB’s Ashley Cain brings daughter Azaylia home for a few days on Friday before her second round of chemotherapy as the family prepare to spend Christmas in hospital
‘She’s doing amazing with the treatment but obviously shes still really poorly but we were given the great opportunity to come home for a few days as a family before she heads back in on Monday for her second round of chemotherapy, before we try and go in for this bone marrow and transplant, hoping and praying we find a donor.
‘This is amazing, being home with our little baby girl is phenomenal and we just really appreciate the chance before we go in.
‘We’re going to go back in for months and months, and months on end, so this moment is really priceless and we’re really enjoying it aren’t we? Yea, we are! ‘
Ashley also shared a snap while with Azaylia, and said his little one has been ‘extremely poorly’ recently but could come home as they’ll have to remain in hospital over the next few months, including over Christmas.
Candid: Posting a video with Azaylia while relaxing on a bed at home, he said of her leukaemia battle: ‘She’s doing amazing with the treatment but obviously shes still really poorly’
Treatment: He added ‘she heads back in on Monday for her second round of chemotherapy, before we try and go in for this bone marrow and transplant’ and will be there for ‘months’
Gushing: Ashley said of his little one coming home, ‘This is amazing, being home with our little baby girl is phenomenal and we just really appreciate the chance before we go in’
In the snap, Ashley could be seen trying to cheer up Azaylia by putting on a puppet show with a rabbit doll.
Explaining their situation again, Ashley told fans: ‘WE ARE HOME FOR A FEW DAYS. Azaylia has completed her first block of chemotherapy and regeneration period and the oncologists have allowed us to return home for a few days as a family
‘Despite Azaylia being extremely poorly, the oncology department recommended we return home to get some well deserved home comforts and boost moral before she returns and goes into her 2nd block of chemotherapy
‘This time at home was so important for us because once we return to hospital, we wont be leaving for months on end, as once we’ve found a donor for Azaylia (God Willing ) she will undergo her bone marrow transplant period directly after her 2nd block of chemotherapy.
Doting dad: Ashley also shared a snap while with Azaylia, and said his little one has been ‘extremely poorly’ as he tried to cheer her up with a rabbit toy
Candid: Explaining their situation, Ashley told fans: ‘The oncology department recommended we return home to get some well deserved home comforts and boost moral before she returns’
‘This means we will be in hospital during Christmas and the foreseeable months afterwards.’
Thanking fans for their support, he went on: ‘Please continue your prayers and please continue registering as a donor. Because, you could be the one who saves my daughters life.
‘Thank you for your continued support, we really appreciate you and gain warmth from you all! We are still positive, we still believe and we WILL get through this!’
Earlier this month, Ashley was left in tears as he revealed his daughter Azaylia is in urgent need of a bone marrow transplant and blood donation amid her battle with leukaemia.
Sharing an update from Azaylia’s hospital room via Instagram, he teared up as he said the news had ‘broken [his] heart’.
Ashley explained to fans: ‘I was having a great morning with my little one then the doctors came in and said that no matter how well she does with these blocks of chemotherapy, she’s on the high risk list so she’ll 100 per cent need a bone marrow transplant.
‘And due to her ethnicity, Caribbean, Burmese, Indian, English, it’s very difficult to find a match for a transplant.
Heartbreaking: Earlier this month, Ashley was left in tears as he revealed his daughter Azaylia needs a bone marrow transplant and blood donation amid her leukaemia battle
‘Even if she does find a transplant, she’s so small and because her case is so bad it’s a very, very long, gruelling, and intense procedure and we could be here for a very, very long time – and that’s if she manages to fight it and withstand it.’
Growing emotional, he continued: ‘It’s sad, it feels like we are back to the start – it’s broken my heart, it’s broken my heart again.
‘It’s difficult, it’s so difficult. As long as she has a fighting chance we are going to fight and this little warrior, she can do it.’
Ashley said: ‘the doctors came in and said that no matter how well she does with these blocks of chemotherapy, she’s on the high risk list so she’ll 100% need a bone marrow transplant’
Struggle: Ashley urged fans to help as ‘due to her ethnicity, Caribbean, Burmese, Indian, English, it’s very difficult to find a match for a transplant’
Asking for his fans support during the difficult time, he went on: ‘Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers and please keep sending us positive energy because we are feeding off it.’
In the caption for the video, Ashley explained that the bone marrow transplant would be a ‘very long and gruelling process’ as it consisted of ‘intense chemotherapy, stem cell treatments, transfusions etc.’
While he admitted it was a ‘crushing blow’, Ashley told fans that they were ‘keeping things positive and as long as she’s got a fighting chance… WE WILL FIGHT!’
Upset: Ashley continued, ‘Even if she does find a transplant, she’s so small and because her case is so bad it’s a very, very long, gruelling, and intense procedure’
Candid: Asking for his fans support during the difficult time, he went on: ‘Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers and please keep sending us positive energy’
The day before, Ashley informed fans he was working with the UK’s main blood cell and bone marrow donation charity to set up a campaign for Azaylia.
He wrote: ‘Morning guys. I am speaking with the charities currently to get a specific campaign link set up for azaylia where you can register to potentially be a doner.
‘They would simply send out an oral swab test to your home and all you need to do is swab and send back to find out if you’re a match! Fingers crossed I will have something set up by the end of today.’
Please donate: The day before, Ashley informed fans he was working with the UK’s main blood cell and bone marrow donation charity to set up a campaign for Azaylia
Earlier on, Ashley revealed that his daughter Azaylia’s hair is starting to fall out amid her heartbreaking cancer battle.
He took to his Instagram stories to give an update on her condition, where he told his followers that her hair was thinning due to her chemotherapy treatment.
Gently stroking Azaylia’s head in the sweet video, Ashley told her ‘you’re still going to be beautiful’ as he added the hair loss shows the treatment is working.
So sad: Ashley also revealed that his daughter Azaylia’s hair is starting to fall out amid her heartbreaking cancer battle
Starting the video, Ashley documented little Azaylia’s day, which saw her up very early in the morning.
As he rubbed her cheeks, he said: ‘Today you got daddy up so early this morning, you got daddy up so early!
‘We had to change your bum bum, we had to wash that sore under your neck. We had a dance and then your were sick all down daddy weren’t you? Then you went to sleep.’
Update: Ashley took to his Instagram stories to give an update on her condition, where he told his followers that her hair was thinning due to her chemotherapy treatment
Then, sharing news of how she’s doing, he went on: ‘You lot wanted a little update, erm, I don’t know… it’s a good thing, I’ve heard it’s a good thing but I don’t know if you can see, her hair is starting to thin out now.
‘I don’t know if you can see on her pillows, you can see where her hair is starting to fall out. But it’s all good, you’re still going to beautiful and it shows the treatment is working.’
Ashley also gave a further insight into their day, earlier sharing a video of Azaylia laying in bed as he remarked on how ‘long’ she’s getting.
Beautiful: Gently stroking Azaylia’s head in the sweet video, Ashley told her ‘you’re still going to be beautiful’ as he added the hair loss shows the treatment is working
He also shared a video from the early hours of the morning, showing the tot waking up.
The TV personality also uploaded a video of the two of them dancing to Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) as he soothed his baby as she was in discomfort.
Earlier this month, Ashley told his followers how his baby daughter faced her second surgery and 16th chemotherapy treatment in two weeks.
Getting big: Ashley also gave a further insight into their day, earlier sharing a video of Azaylia laying in bed as he remarked on how ‘long’ she’s getting
Good morning little one: He also shared a video from the early hours of the morning, showing the tot waking up
The star shared a sweet video of his beloved baby girl in a hospital bed on as she awaited surgery, while declaring how proud he was of her.
Ashley said: ‘That smile is worth a million pounds, every time you smile it’s a million pounds for daddy. You’re making daddy rich in all the ways, trust me.’
He captioned the video: ‘YOU MAKE ME RICH IN WAYS I COULD NEVER IMAGINE .
‘Today my daughter faces her 2nd surgery and 16th chemotherapy treatment in under 2 weeks and she’s doing it with absolute style and grace!
Daddy’s girl: The TV personality also uploaded a video of the two of them dancing to Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) as he soothed his baby as she was in discomfort
‘We love you baby… LETS GO CHAMP!’
Ashley took to Instagram last month to share the news of Azaylia’s devastating diagnosis, asking his followers to ‘say a prayer’ for his ‘beautiful and brave’ little girl.
Sharing a video of himself leaning over the tot’s hospital crib, Ashley wrote: ‘Yesterday I had to go through something no parent in the world should have to go through.
‘The single most upsetting, terrifying and heartbreaking experience I have ever been through.
Sweet: The doting dad has been giving regular updates in Azaylia’s progress since revealing her diagnosis last month
‘I found out my beautiful daughter Azaylia Diamond Cain got diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive form of leukaemia which has come with many complications.
‘Everybody who wishes to, please say a prayer for my beautiful brave little girl Azaylia who is currently fighting a battle for her life! Mummy and Daddy love you princess ❤️ LETS GO CHAMP. You CAN and you WILL beat this!’
Doting dad Ashley could be heard whispering words of encouragement to his tiny daughter as he held her dummy in her mouth in the heartwarming clip.
My little pumpkin: Ashley also shared snaps of his little girl dressed as a pumpkin
The video comes after Ashley revealed Azaylia was turned away by doctors three times prior to her leukaemia diagnosis.
He explain how he visited his GP with his baby when she had stomach pains but they simply told him she had colic.
Ashley then took Azaylia back twice more, only for her to be prescribed laxatives and a nasal spray when her breathing was impeded.
Daddy time: The star looked proud as he posed for another sweet snap with his baby daughter, while she was surrounded by trick or treat sweets
He went on to explain how he used his ‘parental instinct’ and called 111 who sent an ambulance straight away as he encouraged other parents to be wary.
Alongside a sweet video of Ashley doting on his little one as she received chemotherapy in hospital he penned: ‘My daughter had been to the doctors 3 times prior to us ringing the emergency services.
‘Each time they sent us away thinking our daughter had some normal routine baby problems. When in fact, her stomach wasn’t hurting because she had colic or was constipated…
Heartbreaking: Ashley took to Instagram last month to share the news of Azaylia’s devastating diagnosis, asking his followers to ‘say a prayer’ for his ‘beautiful and brave’ little girl
‘Her breathing wasn’t impeded because of a blocked nose… She actually had leukaemia not only in her bone marrow, but her stomach, her lungs AND her kidneys!
‘PARENTS, IF YOU SUSPECT SOMETHING and your parental instinct is flagging that something isn’t right then make sure you do everything in your power to pursue it as sometimes your GP just doesn’t.
‘Thank GOD we took things into our own hands because if we didn’t we could still be at home now thinking our little baby girl is constipated with a cold! – Thank you for your continued support and prayers as every single day we feel the energy and use it to get us through another testing battle!’
Tough: Sharing a video of himself leaning over the tot’s hospital crib, Ashley wrote: ‘Yesterday I had to go through something no parent in the world should have to go through’
In the Instagram clip Ashley cuddled his daughter as she received treatment in her hospital bed.
He said: ‘She’s been amazing this week. It’s crazy to think how strong this little lion is with all the stuff she’s gone through, all the chemotherapy, all the blood transfusions, all the scans.
‘It’s going to be a tough few weeks till this block of chemo is done but we are keeping our fingers crossed.
‘From one parent to another this is my experience and from speaking to other parents around the hospital, we took our daughter to the doctors and they said she had colic, had a blocked nose and that she was constipated, they gave her laxatives and nasal spray.
Family first: Ashley called it ‘the single most upsetting, terrifying and heartbreaking experience I have ever been through’
‘Then we rang 111 and they sent an ambulance straight away. It’s not about being a paranoid parent, if you are worried do take it forwards.
‘If we hadn’t we would be at home and she would probably just not have woken up as we wouldn’t have known there was a problem. Thank god we made that decision to bring her in here.’
The television personality and his girlfriend Safiyya Vorajee welcomed baby Azaylia Diamond in August.
Sharing the first photos of his newborn daughter, Ashley wrote: ‘Azaylia Diamond Cain 7lbs 10oz. Born 10/08/2020. Time 06:56.
Journey: Alongside a sweet video of Ashley doting on his little one as she received chemotherapy in hospital he explained what had happened
‘There is no words to describe this feeling. But she has opened new doors to my life and my heart. I could literally look at her all day and hold her till my arms give in.
‘But mainly I will always be there for her as her daddy, her friend and her confidant! Daddy loves you baby, you’ve changed my life!’
Ashley made a name for himself as one of the original stars on Ex On The Beach after carving a career as a footballer.
He starred on the first series and returned for the second, before joining the celebrity fifth season in 2016.
He had a fling with Jemma Lucy on the show and went on to date Big Brother star Chloe Khan a year later but split in February 2018.