Emily In Paris star Ashley Park says it's a 'miracle' she made it onto the show after battling leukemia and sepsis - as she credits her boyfriend for saving her life

Emily In Paris star Ashley Park has said it's a miracle she made in on the show after her past battles with leukemia & sepsis.

The actress, 33, has returned to screens as singer Mindy Chen for the fourth season of the Netflix hit as she navigates life in the French capital with best pal Emily, played by Lily Collins.

But while her lovable character may live a relatively carefree life in Paris, in real life, Ashley had to endure some tough hardships as she battled two life-threatening illnesses.

In a new interview, Ashley reflects on her health issues, recalling how overcoming the illnesses made her more stronger and determined to achieve her goals.

She also credits boyfriend Paul Forman for 'saving her life' as she notes she wouldn't be here without him.

Ashley was diagnosed with blood cancer as a teenager, however, she was delayed in getting help as she initially believed her symptoms to be 'growing pains'.

Speaking on My First Time podcast, she said: 'It’s so crazy to be the woman I am now, it’s very full circle. It was right before Christmas that I was diagnosed. I danced and I did a lot of extra-curriculars and was late to all my classes because I couldn’t climb the stairs in time. I had bruises everywhere and I had lost so much weight. But everyone is changing when you are 15. I was like, "Great, my growth spurt, I’m losing all my baby fat".'

After brushing off the symptoms, Ashley eventually visited the school pediatrician where she had a blood test, with the pediatrician telling her to go to the ER immediately.

After arriving at hospital, Ashley remained there for eight months as she underwent treatment, with the star losing her beloved hair in the process. 

Amid her cancer treatment, Ashley was granted a wish my the Make A Wish Foundation, where she opted to head to New York to take in a Broadway show.

And it was there that she was inspired to pursue a career in musical theatre, with the actress determined not to let her illness define her and stop her from following her dreams.

She went on to regain her strength and managed to star as Millie Dillmount in her high school’s production of Thoroughly Modern Millie - with Ashley wearing wigs made from her own hair during her performance.

She shared: 'Once I left hospital I decided, "I don’t want this to define me, and one day I will have long hair again and people will have no ide"’. But it is something that has defined me, despite me not wanting it to. I had the adult form of leukemia, which is more intense and spreads faster. But I see it as a blessing because, instead of a three-year treatment protocol, it was really vigorous. 

Ashley added that she never believed that theatre was a 'career possibility' for her, but after surviving cancer,  her parents insisted that she could do 'whatever you want'. 

However, after moving on from that health ordeal and kickstarting her career thanks to her role in the Netflix show, Ashley suffered another setback when she was struck down with sepsis earlier this year. 

Her illness came while on a romantic holiday with boyfriend and co-star Paul, who plays Nicolas de Leon, with Ashley taken to Dubai for treatment, away from her friends and family.

The TV personality at the time shared images of herself hooked up to wires in hospital after going into 'critical septic shock' that 'infected her organs', with Paul lovingly by her bedside.

Sharing just how integral he was to her recovery, Ashley said: 'I feel lucky, actually. It’s been kind of a miracle how I have recovered. I don’t think I would have made it without him. Everybody else was on the other side of the world.'

At the time, Ashley opened up about her struggles to her 2.8 million Instagram followers as she shared startling photos from her hospital bed. 

She wrote: 'As I sit here processing and recovering from the first few weeks of 2024, the only word I can think of is grateful.

'While on holiday in December into New Years, what started as tonsillitis spiraled into critical septic shock, which infected and affected several of my organs. I am grateful that my health has improved despite what we had initially been told.'