Ashley Cain shares photos with his newborn Aliyas as he admits spending time with his son ‘brings back memories to my favourite times’ with late daughter Azaylia
Ashley Cain shared some adorable snaps of his newborn son on Instagram on Sunday.
The TV personality, 33, welcomed baby Aliyas Diamond Cain in January, two years after he and his ex-partner Safiyya Vorajee, 36, tragically lost their daughter Azaylia to leukemia.
But it seemed the demands of caring for a newborn had taken its toll on Ashley, who appeared to be sleeping in the photos, holding the baby in his arms who also kept an eye on things.
In the post, Ashley paid tribute to his late daughter and said looking at the photo “brought back memories” of his “favorite times” with her.
He captioned it: “Sleeping on the job. Honestly, I can honestly say this is my favorite place. There’s something about comforting someone you love and letting that feeling bring you a moment of absolute peace.
Ashley Cain shared some photos on Instagram on Sunday of his newborn son, both of whom appeared to be asleep in the adorable photos
The TV personality, 33, welcomed Aliyas Diamond Cain in January, two years after he and his ex-partner Safiyya Vorajee, 36, tragically lost their daughter Azaylia to leukemia.
In the post, Ashley paid tribute to his late daughter and said looking at the photo “brought back memories” of his “favorite times” with her
‘Looking at these photos brings back memories of my favorite moments with Azaylia. There was something about holding her in my arms that allowed me to be consumed with so much love, so much happiness, so much contentment, that I could completely relax just by appreciating the present moment.”
He added, “I’m holding in my pain that I can no longer do this with my daughter, but I’m counting my blessings that I can now do this with my son.”
Fans took to the comments section to leave their thoughts on the post.
One follower wrote: ‘He heals his father’s heart little by little… but there will always be a space where Azaylia will stay forever.’
A second wrote: ‘You all deserve happiness and peace. I’m glad you found some comfort in your son.’
A third commented: ‘And as it should be. You will never forget your beautiful daughter, so enjoy your son.”
Ashley did not reveal the identity of the mother of his second child, but confirmed that while they are not together, they have been friends since they were 18 and have dated on and off over the years.
The Ex On The Beach star’s daughter Azaylia was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at eight weeks old and had tumors on her lungs, stomach and kidneys.
Ashley added that while he knows he can no longer hold his late daughter, he counts his blessings that he can with Aliyas Diamond Cain – whose middle name was named after his daughter.
Fans took to the comments section to leave their thoughts on the post, with many saying he deserves happiness with his little boy
Ashley defended his choice to name his newborn son after his late daughter, Azaylia (pictured with Azaylia in 2021)
Ashley previously admitted it was ‘not easy’ to break the news to his ex-partner Safiyya Vorajee (pictured), saying: ‘It was painful for Safiyya, but it was also painful for me to talk to her
She received 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, after a courageous battle.
He revealed he had paid tribute to his late daughter by using her middle name, Diamond, later explaining it was a “family tradition.”
Safiyya has said she is heartbroken that Ashley fathered a child with someone else and claims he asked her to try for a second baby with him after their divorce. She hoped for a reconciliation, but admits that she had not been explicit about it.
In December, Safiyya said both she and Ashley were struggling with their grief and he later moved out of their home in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.
She said The sun on Sunday: ‘He had something to drink, it was quick and brutal. He said he couldn’t do it anymore.’
Former footballer Ashley and Safiyya raised more than £1.5 million to fund Azaylia’s specialist treatment before her death and later donated all unspent money to the Azaylia Foundation, which aims to support families and create memorable experiences to offer to children fighting cancer.
Safiyya said The Challenge star Ashley turned to booze and fundraising and she put his needs first but craved love and attention.
Ashley moved in with his aunt and Safiyya later did the same despite the split, with the couple having separate rooms in the same house.
In June last year, Safiyya moved out of Ashley’s aunt’s house and bought her own property, thinking some space between her and her ex would do them good.
They continued to work on the foundation they had created in Azaylia’s name, talking about it every day, and she waited, hoping he would ask her to join him again.
But Ashley told her that he had a child with another woman, even though he was not in a relationship with her.
She said, “He didn’t tell me who she was, and again, I wouldn’t ask.”
Bursting into tears, she added: “That’s the heartbreaking thing about it. Even when he told me, I put him first so he didn’t feel guilty for telling me. Inside I was screaming and crying.”
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 in caring for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, contact Together for Short Lives on 0808 8088 100 or visit www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk