EOTB’s Ashley Cain says daughter Azaylia is waiting for bone marrow test amid her leukaemia battle

Ashley Cain has said having his baby daughter Azaylia back home has helped bring ‘so much of his soul back’.

Sharing a sweet update on Tuesday, the Ex On The Beach star, 30, spoke candidly about his mental health amid his seven-month-old’s battle with leukaemia.

He also said he and Azaylia had returned to hospital for a visit as they were waiting for her to have a bone marrow test.

Candid: EOTB’s Ashley Cain said having baby daughter Azaylia home has ‘brought so much of his soul back’ as he revealed she is waiting for bone marrow test amid her leukaemia battle

In a lengthy post, which accompanied a picture of him and Azaylia in hospital, he wrote: ‘Humbled every time we return. Being at home has been amazing. 

‘Having my family back together again has brought so much of my soul back, that I didn’t realise how much had actually gone! 

‘It’s crazy that it was only the other day that it kicked in again how poorly my baby really is and howmuch of a tough battle we still have ahead! (sic)’

He went on: ‘I was speaking to my partner last night and I said to her that this is by far the saddest and most heartbroken I have ever been, yet it’s the happiest and most complete I have ever been.

Reflective: In a lengthy post, he wrote: 'this is by far the saddest and most heartbroken I have ever been, yet it’s the happiest and most complete'

Reflective: In a lengthy post, he wrote: ‘this is by far the saddest and most heartbroken I have ever been, yet it’s the happiest and most complete’

Meaningful: Ashley added, 'Being at home has been amazing. 'Having my family back together again has brought so much of my soul back, that I didn’t realise how much had actually gone!'

Meaningful: Ashley added, ‘Being at home has been amazing. ‘Having my family back together again has brought so much of my soul back, that I didn’t realise how much had actually gone!’

‘I guess it doesn’t make sense unless you’re in it, but when my baby is at home with me there is no moment in my lifetime that compares! 

‘We have another eagerly waited bone marrow test coming up. My heart, my soul, my energy and my prayers are that we get the result we have been wishing for this time around! Let’s go Likkle Lion. I believe in you.’

It comes after Ashley admitted that he’s found the last couple of weeks ‘mentally challenging’ as he copes with his baby girl’s diagnosis.

In an emotional video shared to his Instagram last Friday, the reality star told how he’s pushed himself to get out of his ‘comfort zone’ and back on top form as he insisted: ‘My daughter needs me at 150%’.

Procedure: Ashley said his seven-month-old daughter is now waiting for another bone marrow test, and his 'heart' and 'soul' are focusing on getting 'the result we have been wishing for'

Procedure: Ashley said his seven-month-old daughter is now waiting for another bone marrow test, and his ‘heart’ and ‘soul’ are focusing on getting ‘the result we have been wishing for’

Speaking into the camera during a walk, Ashley told how the video is ‘self reflection’ after finding himself struggling mentally in the wake of his daughter’s illness. 

The reality star then gave an inspirational message of how he’s turned things around and is determined to be strong and transfer his positive energy to his little girl.   

He said: ‘The last couple of weeks have been very mentally challenging and I’ve done what I never do, I let myself slip.

‘It’s all because I haven’t kept my standards, I haven’t been tenacious with the way I go through life. I’ve sat back and I’ve allowed myself to get in my comfort zone and that is the worst thing you can do. Nothing was ever achieved in a comfort zone.’

So tough: It comes after Ashley admitted that he's found the last couple of weeks 'mentally challenging' as he copes with his baby girl's devastating diagnosis

So tough: It comes after Ashley admitted that he’s found the last couple of weeks ‘mentally challenging’ as he copes with his baby girl’s devastating diagnosis

Ashley went on: ‘My daughter needs me at 150%. That means, I need to do whatever I can do in my power to make myself that level so that I can transfer that energy onto her. If I eat right, if I sleep right, if I train right, and if I keep pushing towards my goals in life, that makes me the top of my game.’

Earlier this month, he gave an update on Azaylia’s treatment, saying he and partner Safiyya Vorajee’s, 33, next course of action was to reduce her cyclosporine medication in the hope it will prompt Azaylia’s stem cells to fight her cancer.

Posting a photo of his daughter looking up at the camera, Ashley wrote: ‘Having my daughter back at home has been amazing. She is happy, she is growing and she is learning new things every day!

‘This being said, there is still a huge cloud over us because consultants discovered that Azaylia’s leukemia has returned post transplant, which leaves us with very little options going forward.

Heartbreaking: Ashley recently told fans that there are 'very few options' to help his baby daughter Azaylia after her leukaemia returned (pictured in January)

Heartbreaking: Ashley recently told fans that there are ‘very few options’ to help his baby daughter Azaylia after her leukaemia returned (pictured in January)

‘However, our next step is to reduce her cyclosporine medication which is there to regulate her new stem cells, to wake them up and give them a boost in the hope they will fight off the remaining leukemia cells,? which the chemotherapy can’t. 

‘We are hoping that we encounter a strong case of GVL (Graft vs Leukemia) and minimal amounts of GVHD (Graft vs Host Disease) in this process (sic).’

Going on to gush about his daughter’s positivity in the face of her illness, he went on: ‘I am SO proud of how much strength and courage she has shown throughout this journey! 

‘& the fact she can always find a smile no matter what she’s going through, is nothing less than unbelievable!

‘We go again Likkle Lion. Please keep Azaylia in your prayers. LETS GO CHAMP ❤️’

Plan: Ashley said he and his partner Safiyya Vorajee's next course of action was to reduce her cyclosporine medication in the hope it will prompt Azaylia's stem cells to fight her cancer

Plan: Ashley said he and his partner Safiyya Vorajee’s next course of action was to reduce her cyclosporine medication in the hope it will prompt Azaylia’s stem cells to fight her cancer

Honest: Posting a photo of his daughter looking up at the camera, Ashley added: 'We are hoping that we encounter a strong case of GVL (Graft vs Leukemia)'

Honest: Posting a photo of his daughter looking up at the camera, Ashley added: ‘We are hoping that we encounter a strong case of GVL (Graft vs Leukemia)’

Ashley was left in tears last month when he marked the moment his daughter Azaylia left hospital to go home for the first time in five months.  

The reality star 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.  

Taking to Instagram, Ashley shared the moment of Azaylia ‘ringing the bell’ so he and his partner Safiyya 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! 

Emotional: Ashley was left in tears last month when he marked the moment his daughter Azaylia left hospital to go home for the first time in five months

Emotional: Ashley was left in tears last month when he marked the moment his daughter Azaylia left hospital to go home for the first time in five months 

‘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. 

Poignant: Ashley shared the moment of Azaylia 'ringing the bell' so he and his partner Safiyya could finally take her home, with Azaylia continuing her treatment as an outpatient

Milestone: Azaylia will continue her treatment as an outpatient

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

‘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. 

Sad: The star said it was a 'miracle blindsided by heartbreak' after doctors delivered the news her leukaemia had returned - just before the family were due to leave the children's ward

Sad: The star said it was a ‘miracle blindsided by heartbreak’ after doctors delivered the news her leukaemia had returned – just before the family were due to leave the children’s ward

‘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.

Keeping positive: Ashley's partner Safiyya Vorajee also commented on Ashley's post saying that their 'special little girl' will 'beat this'

Keeping positive: Ashley’s partner Safiyya Vorajee also commented on Ashley’s post saying that their ‘special little girl’ will ‘beat this’

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 star 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.   

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. 

Treatment: In January, Ashley revealed his daughter had been responding well to her stem cell treatment

Treatment: In January, Ashley revealed his daughter had been responding well to her stem cell treatment

What are the symptoms of leukaemia in children?

Fatigue and pale skin – this is because leukaemia can cause anaemia which makes a child feel weak, tired and light-headed.

Infections and fever – children with leukaemia lack normal white blood cells which would normally help fight infection.

Rash – children may have small, dark spots that look like common rashes if the leukemia cells spread to the skin   

Easy bruising or bleeding – this includes frequent nosebleeds, bleeding gums and bleeding a lot from small cuts.

Bone or joint pain – this is caused by a build up of leukaemia cells near the surface of the bone or inside the joint.

Swelling of the abdomen – leukaemia cells may collect in the liver and spleen causing them to enlarge.

Loss of appetite and weight loss – if the spleen and liver swell, they can press against the stomach causing loss of appetite.

Swollen lymph nodes – some leukaemias spread to the lymph nodes causing them to swell.

Source: American Cancer Society