Ex-UK soccer player and reality TV star Ashley Cain shared the heartbreaking news on social media on Sunday. His baby daughter, Azaylia Diamond Cain, died on Saturday at 8 months old. At only 8 weeks old, she was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of leukemia known as acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).
Cain and his partner Safiyya Vorajee paid tribute to their daughter on Instagram. Alongside a photo of him hugging Azaylia, Ex on the Beach star Cain wrote: “Rest in paradise, princess. I will always hold you in my heart until I can hug you again in heaven.”
Aesthetics practitioner Vorajee posted two images of her cradling her daughter, writing in the caption: “You are my angel, my heart, my soul, RIP, my precious baby, you will always be with me as an imprint on my heart.”
On Monday, Cain shared another image on Instagram, showing him holding Azaylia’s hand. “My heart is broken,” he wrote. “You gave my life a purpose, my face a smile, you filled my heart with love and my soul with pride.” He continued: “I cannot put into words my sadness and my pain, there are no words to describe it. I love you with every ounce of my body and I already miss you so much.”
The couple had raised more than $ 2.2 million through their GoFundMe campaign to pay for Azaylia’s specialized treatment in Singapore. But Cain revealed on Instagram last month that she was too ill for treatment. A statement on the fundraising page reads: “We will donate any extra money to other children and their families in the same situation as us. We are committed to giving back to this community from the moment we were incorporated and that is something I will always honor. . ”
What is acute myelogenous leukemia?
AML is a type of leukemia that begins in the bone marrow, where new blood cells are made. More specifically, it originates from myeloid cells that normally make white blood cells (other than lymphocytes), red blood cells, or platelets.
According to the American Cancer Society, most childhood leukemias are acute, which means they progress rapidly and generally need to be treated without delay. Most children with leukemia, about three out of four, have acute lymphocytic (lymphoblastic) leukemia (ALL), which begins in the early forms of white blood cells called lymphocytes. Most of the remaining cases have AML, also known as acute myeloid leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, or acute non-lymphocytic leukemia.
Acute myeloid leukemia usually affects children during the first two years of life or in adolescence, says the American Society for Clinical Oncology. However, AML is more common in adults than children.
Signs and symptoms of childhood leukemia
There are no widely recommended blood tests or other screening tests to detect leukemia before it begins to cause symptoms, which means it is usually detected through signs and symptoms. According to the American Cancer Society, symptoms are often caused by bone marrow problems; As leukemic cells multiply in the marrow, they outnumber healthy blood cells.
If a child does not have enough red blood cells (known as anemia), symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath, and paler skin may occur. If the white blood cells are affected, the most common symptoms are infections and fever (with or without infection).
Platelets are tiny, gold-colored cells made in the bone marrow that help stops bleeding. Platelet shortages can lead to easy bruising and bleeding, frequent or severe nosebleeds, and bleeding gums.
Leukemia in children can also cause bone or joint pain, swelling of the abdomen, swollen lymph nodes, cough or shortness of breath, and loss of appetite or weight loss.
To detect and diagnose AML, doctors usually perform a physical exam and take a blood sample. According to the National Cancer Institute, the blood sample is sent to a laboratory to check the number of red blood cells and platelets; the number and type of white blood cells; the amount of hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen) in red blood cells; and the portion of the blood sample made up of red blood cells.
How is AML treated?
There are several treatment options available for AML, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy with a monoclonal antibody (gemtuzumab), radiation therapy, and stem cell transplantation.
Due to advances in treatment methods, the survival rate for childhood leukemia has improved tremendously in recent decades. According to the American Childhood Cancer Organization, the five-year survival rate for ALL is now 90%. For acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), it is around 60-70%.
