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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Mollie Quirk

Azaylia Cain's mum Safiyya gives advice to grieving parents as anniversary approaches

Safiyya Vorajee has opened up ahead of Azaylia's anniversary to give some advice to grieving parents – while lifting the lid on her own struggles and how she's been coping.

As the year anniversary of Ashley, 31, and Safiyya, 34, losing their baby girl Azaylia Diamond Cain, the couple are now on a mission to help other families and children fighting cancer with The Azaylia Foundation.

Baby Azaylia lost her battle with a rare form of leukaemia at just eight months old in April last year.

Speaking to OK! Magazine, Safiyya has opened up about how she wants to help grieving families and how the foundation that they have set up in Azaylia's name has "helped her the most".

Safiyya also spoke of how she has been coping over the past year, explaining that the foundation, her "circle of strength" and getting counselling has really helped her.

Azaylia Diamond Cain sadly passed away last year (INSTAGRAM)

She then spoke of Azaylia's garden and how keeping it "neat and tidy" is a great help, adding: "I didn't have green fingers before but after this I feel like going down there every day makes me feel like I'm doing something for her and just keeping her area well respected and looked after."

"I think take each day as it comes," she urged grieving parents, explaining: "don't put any expectations on yourself, take baby steps. I've used that through the process from the day Azaylia passed and that is to take baby steps."

She added to avoid putting your life back together quickly and "just take each day as it comes" while urging them to be kind to themselves.

"You know, you're not doing these things that are required from you in day-to-day life, you know, and just really be kind to yourself and each other."

The Azaylia Foundation has been a great comfort for Safiyya because she feels as though she "knows their pain" and "can really empathise and understand them".

This comes after the couple revealed in January that they were feeling hopeful that they may reach a "certain point" when they can have a rainbow baby.

Parents who have experienced baby loss or bereavement often call their next child a "rainbow" baby - with the rainbow seen as a symbol of hope after loss.

Earlier on in the year the couple looked to the future, and opened up about how they had always hoped for a sibling for Azaylia and would consider another baby if they get to a stage where it feels right.

Ashley and Safiyya have been open about struggles with loss of their baby girl (ITV)

Pulling together, the couple have been involved in an array of different fundraising efforts, the latest of which saw Ashley take on a marathon raising £38,000 towards for a young boy's life-saving treatment.

Meanwhile Safiyya handed out Christmas gifts at a Children's hospital before decorating her daughter's memorial garden.

The couple will hold their next fundraising event on June 4 and 5 this year called Cycle for Azaylia, which is a 15-mile bike ride in Cambridgeshire.

To join Ashley and Safiyya on the debut Cycle for Azaylia event please go to www.cycleforazaylia.com

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