ASHLEY Cain has credited daughter Azaylia with “saving my life” in a heartbreaking tribute following her death.
The reality TV star, 30, announced his daughter with Safiyya Vorajee, 34, had died on Saturday at just eight months old after a battle with a rare form of leukaemia.
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Today he opened up about his grief in a moving post as he vowed to keep her legacy alive, explaining how she had made him a better man.
Sharing a picture of him holding her hand, he wrote: “My heart is shattered 💔.
“You gave my life purpose, my face a smile, filled my heart with love and my soul with pride.
“I can’t put into words my sadness and pain, there aren’t words to describe it. I love you with every ounce of my body and I miss you so much already.”
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Ashley continued: “You made me a better man. You made me the person I’ve always wanted to be. You’ve taught me more in your 8 months than I’ve learned my whole life.
“I don’t know why you’ve been taken away from me and my heart aches in your absence.”
The star went on to make a series of promises for his darling daughter.
“But I promise you that your name with live on. I will carry your name across every ocean, along every road, to the top of every mountain and across the whole globe,” he wrote.
“Your name will live, your legacy will be remembered and I will seek peace in living as your vessel to continue inspiring, giving strength, spreading joy and saving “
He continued: “You saved my life, you really did. With my second chance, I make a promise to you that I will make yours live on in our hearts, our thoughts and our prayers.
“I am blessed, I am honoured and I am privileged to be your father. I would go through all of the pain again and again. Because what you gave me in those 8 months will live with me for eternity.”
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He then quoted the lyrics from The Jungle Book song ‘I want to be like you’, which is a tune both he and Safiyya often sang for Azaylia.
Azaylia Diamond Cain died on Saturday aged just eight months after fighting acute myeloid leukaemia for most of her life.
Ashley revealed the news on social media, saying: “Rest In Paradise Princess.
“I will always hold you in my heart until I can hold you again in heaven.”
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Azaylia’s mum Safiyya 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.”
Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon and former England footballer Rio Ferdinand’s wife Kate were among those who posted tributes.
Reality stars Vicky Pattison, Wayne Lineker, Scarlett Moffatt and Giovanna Fletcher also sent their condolences.
Ashley and Safiyya had raised more than £1.5million to fund a trip to Singapore for a life-saving transplant for Azaylia and encouraged more than 100,000 people to join the stem cell register.
But earlier this month, the couple, from Nuneaton, Warks, learned Azaylia’s leukaemia had got worse and there was nothing medics could do.
The couple spent her final weeks at home, filling her life with as much love and joy as they could.
Azaylia’s story attracted global attention with even Hollywood superstar Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson getting in touch with the family.
She was recently nominated for a Pride Of Britain Award. And landmarks around the world, including Blackpool Tower and Niagara Falls, were lit orange in her honour.
