Ashley Cain has furiously defended the mother of his unborn baby, after revealing he is set to become a father again.
The TV personality, 33, revealed last weekend he is expecting a son with an old friend, two years after he and his ex partner Safiyya Vorajee, 36, tragically lost their little girl Azaylia.
Azalyia was diagnosed with with acute myeloid leukemia at eight-weeks-old and had tumours on her lungs, stomach and kidneys.
She was given several rounds of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant at Birmingham Children’s Hospital but sadly died on April 24, 2021 when she was just eight-months-old, following a courageous battle.
Despite the former Ex On The Beach star receiving a lot of support, he has now uploaded a lengthy Instagram statement saying the mum of his unborn son is ‘a good person and someone I trust’.
Ashley Cain has furiously defended the mother of his unborn baby, after revealing he is set to become a father again
The TV personality revealed last weekend he is expecting a son with an old friend, two years after he and his ex partner Safiyya Vorajee, 36, tragically lost their little girl Azaylia (pictured)
Ashley hasn’t disclosed the identity of his second child’s mother but confirmed that while they are not together, they have been friends since they were 18 and dated on and off over the years.
Alongside a clip of a large lion looking after a young cub, he penned: ‘This isn’t a post for sympathy, it’s a post to say it how it is.. I am a man that went through a tragic 6 month battle with my daughter fighting cancer. I am a man that witnessed that terrible illness take her life.
‘I am a man that had to bury the most precious thing I have ever seen, touched & witnessed. I am a man that not only is dealing with grief, but remained strong to help those around me deal with theirs.
‘I am a man that made promises and commitments to his daughter that he would be the best person he could be to make a positive difference in this world for other children that follow in her footsteps.
‘I am a man that kept that promise and despite his feelings everyday, does what he needs to do to make that happen. I am also a man that chooses to help others fight their demons, open up about their problems and be brave enough to tackle and improve their mental health.’
Ashley admitted he is a ‘carer’ and even though he and the mother of his unborn baby are not together he praised her in the post.
He continued: ‘I am a man that even though not with his ex partner, provided a safe space for her surrounded by his very own family for years after they spilt. I am a family man.. A lover, a carer and a fighter for myself, my people and the things that I believe in.
‘& now I am a man that is having another child, not with a partner, but with a lady that is a good person, who I trust & believe will be a great mother. Being that man, I will be a present father to my child.
Despite the former Ex On The Beach star receiving a lot of support, he has now uploaded a lengthy statement saying the mum of his unborn son is ‘a good person and someone I trust’.
Ashley hasn’t disclosed the identity of his second child’s mother but confirmed that while they are not together, they have been friends since they were 18 and dated on and off over the years
Alongside a clip of a large lion looking after a young cub, he penned: ‘This isn’t a post for sympathy, it’s a post to say it how it is’
‘I will love, care & protect him at all costs for the rest of my life. I am a man that has took heat over and over again while caring for his terminally ill child. I am a man that has continued taking that heat since losing his precious child.
‘I am also a man that is prepared to continue to take that heat to continue his daughters legacy, to continue having a positive impact in this world & to make sure that I can be the best father that I can be to my son.’
He concluded: ‘I am a man that will not only take that heat, but I will control the flames to make sure they don’t burn others that I care about in the process.
‘I am a man, a human being, not a perfect one, but one that is committed to doing as best as he possibly can. To everyone reading this whether you love me or hate me.. I wish you love, strength & blessings!’
It comes after Ashley admitted he feels ‘guilty’ about welcoming another child following the death of his daughter Azaylia.
Speaking about becoming a father for the second time, Ashley confessed on Monday’s Good Morning Britain: ‘It was different because I felt slightly guilty, I felt slightly hurt for Azaylia and I didn’t really expect this to be the case.’
Ashley continued: ‘But very quickly, like I do, I took the responsibility of being a father. I realise that every child is a blessing and I got myself in the right mind frame and had a long time to think about it.
‘[I’m going to] be the best person I can possibly be for my son that’s coming into this world and that’s what I intend to do.’
As host Ed Balls asked if this baby news made him feel ‘conflicted with loss and opportunity’, Ashley responded: ‘100 percent.
It comes after Ashley admitted he feels ‘guilty’ about welcoming another child following the death of his daughter Azaylia
Ashley previously confessed it ‘wasn’t easy’ breaking the news to his ex partner Safiyya Vorajee, saying: ‘It was painful for Safiyya but it was also painful for me as well to talk to her
‘I think I was meant to be a daddy. I love children, I love my family’s children and it’s hard every time to see them because I always think that’s what Azaylia should be doing now…I think that’ll be the case with my son.’
Ashley – who has led a number of endurance tasks to raise money for his charity The Azaylia Foundation – went on to reveal his latest fundraising task, which will begin on the anniversary of Azaylia’s death in April.
He is set to travel between John O’Groats and Land’s End three times – racking up 2,400 miles – on foot, by bike and and by kayak.
If you are struggling with the loss of a child please contact Sands on 0808 164 3332 or helpline@sands.org.uk
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
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
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.
April 2021: 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.
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.
