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A 24-year-old woman named Caitlin Leggett tragically passed away shortly after beginning fundraising efforts for a critical leukemia treatment. Caitlin’s diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) came in April 2025. This diagnosis led to a surprising discovery that she and her sister, Grace, were in fact identical twins rather than fraternal, a revelation that came at a crucial time as Caitlin urgently required a stem cell transplant.
Caitlin underwent several months of chemotherapy and received a stem cell transplant in December 2025, achieving complete remission. Unfortunately, by May 2026, the cancer returned. Doctors then informed her she had an estimated six months to live. Her twin sister Grace expressed the shock and disbelief they all felt, saying, “We’re only 24 – nobody expects this to happen… Being twins as well, you’re not supposed to have one twin not be there.”
In an effort to find a curative treatment, Caitlin’s family sought options overseas and launched a GoFundMe campaign on 2 June, which raised over £100,000 by 10 June. However, Caitlin’s health rapidly worsened when she suffered a severe brain bleed and multiple strokes on 13 June. She passed away two days later, surrounded by her family including Grace, brother Ethan, sister Neve, and their parents Jennifer and Ian. Grace recalled the difficult moments during Caitlin’s last hours, saying: “We all got the chance to speak to her. Neve put her favourite pillow spray on, we massaged her hands with lotion, and the nurses gave us a memory box with special paper and a charcoal wipe, so we could take her footprints and hand prints.”
Throughout her illness, Caitlin was comforted by music, with her sister Grace playing piano and her favorite pianist Patrik Pietschmann’s pieces filling the room as she died peacefully. Caitlin had been frightened by the prospect of dying slowly over six months, but Grace found some solace in how quickly her sister’s passing occurred. The sisters had always been close, living together while studying at the University of Bristol. Grace even left her job to be closer to her family in Cardiff during Caitlin’s treatment.
Initially believed to be fraternal twins because they developed in separate amniotic sacs, doctors discovered Caitlin and Grace were genetically identical during tests to assess Grace as a stem cell donor. However, this genetic similarity disqualified Grace from donating stem cells to Caitlin, complicating the treatment process. Caitlin’s family cherished their final moments together, including a day spent trying on bridesmaids’ dresses in anticipation of an upcoming wedding where Caitlin was to be the maid of honour.
Ian, Caitlin’s father, praised her “fighting spirit” and resilience, highlighting her ability to stay positive and live in the moment. After Caitlin’s death, the family paused the fundraising campaign, which had reached £127,722. The funds will be distributed to charities and initiatives in Caitlin’s memory. Donations will support the Teenage Cancer Trust, funding a lead nurse position for the Cardiff and South Wales area, and Leukaemia UK, backing research to improve leukaemia treatments. Additionally, some funds will be used for memorial projects, including tree planting and a dedicated piano in the hospital.
Acute myeloid leukaemia, the diagnosis that took Caitlin’s life, is a fast-progressing cancer of the white blood cells requiring immediate medical intervention. Common symptoms include pallor, fatigue, breathlessness, unusual bleeding or bruising, and unexplained weight loss. Caitlin’s story is a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by those battling aggressive cancers and the impact on their families
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