What disease did Ashley Cain’s daughter Azaylia have?
REALITY star Ashley Cain was left devastated when his eight-month old baby tragically passed away.
The ex-footballer and his then-girlfriend Safiyya Vorajee announced their little girl Azaylia had died in April 2021.
What disease did Azaylia have?
Ashley Cain and Safiyya Vorajee welcomed their daughter Azaylia Diamond in August 2020.
The TV star wrote: "Azaylia Diamond Cain 7lbs 10oz. Born 10/08/2020. Time 06:56.
"There is no words to describe this feeling."
But just two months after her birth, Azaylia was diagnosed with a an aggressive form of leukaemia.
The parents were devastated after doctors found more tumours and ran out of options to save the young girl.
What is leukaemia?
Leukaemia is a type of blood cancer that affects cells in bone marrow and attacks the immune system.
In most cases of leukaemia, there is no obvious cause. Little Azaylia had been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) , which is a rapidly progressive form of the illness.
Leukaemia is a cancer that leads to the body making too many abnormal white blood cells and means the body is less likely to be able to defend itself against infection.
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These blood cells are not fully developed and are called leukaemia cells.
The disease is often classified as the type of cell affected (myeloid or lymphatic) and how it progresses (acute or chronic).
What are the different types of leukaemia?
There are four main types of leukaemia.
They are:
Acute Lymphocytic Leukaemia (ALL) - A rapidly progressing form of the disease. More common in children.
Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) - Rapidly progressive. More common in adults.
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) - Slowly progressing form and more common in adults.
Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) - Progresses slowly and is more common in adults.
There are no specific signs or symptoms which would allow for a doctor to make a diagnosis without lab tests.
In all types of leukaemia symptoms are more commonly caused by a lack of normal blood cells than by the presence of abnormal white cells.
As the bone marrow becomes full of leukaemia cells, it is unable to produce the large numbers of normal blood cells which the body needs.
This can lead to:
- Anaemia
- Weakness and tiredness
- More frequent infections
- Fever
- Bleeding and bruising
When did Azaylia die?
It was announced on April 25, 2021, that the tot had passed away from the disease.
Ashley told fans the heartbreaking news, writing: "Rest in paradise princess. I will always hold you in my heart until I can hold you again in heaven."
Azaylia's mum Safiyya Vorajee added: "You are my Angel my heartbeat my soul, RIP my precious baby, you will always be with me like a handprint on my heart."
And in a further post the same day, Saffiya paid a further emotional tribute to her baby daughter.
She posted on Instagram: "You are my Angel my heartbeat my soul, RIP my precious baby, you will always be with me like a handprint on my heart."
How much money was raised for Azaylia?
Before the tot died, more than £1.6 raised, after Ashley and Saffiya asked fans and friends were help pay for potentially life-saving treatment in Singapore.
After Azaylia died, the former couple pledged to give the money to "other children and their families in the same situation as us".
Ashley has continued to raise funds to help battle this rare form of leukaemia.
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In 2023, he raised awareness of the disease when he took part in The Real Full Monty.
Fans were left in tears when Ashley talked about his little girl during the show.