Identical Twin Passes Away Weeks After Starting Leukaemia Fundraiser
A 24-year-old woman, Caitlin Leggett, died last month surrounded by her family, just weeks after initiating a fundraising campaign for critical leukaemia treatment.
In April 2025, Caitlin received a sudden diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). This diagnosis led to the unexpected discovery that she and her sister Grace were identical twins rather than fraternal, at a time when Caitlin urgently required a stem cell transplant.
Following several months of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant in December 2025, Caitlin achieved complete remission. However, in May 2026, medical professionals determined that the cancer had returned, and Caitlin was given a prognosis of six months to live.
"We're only 24 – nobody expects this to happen... Being twins as well, you're not supposed to have one twin not be there,"
said her twin sister, Grace.
The family chose to pursue potentially curative treatment abroad. To support this, a GoFundMe campaign was launched on 2 June, raising over £100,000 by 10 June.
On Saturday, 13 June, Caitlin suffered a sudden, severe brain hemorrhage followed by multiple strokes, leading to a rapid decline in her health.
She passed away two days later, surrounded by Grace, her brother Ethan (27), sister Neve (19), and parents Jennifer (54) and Ian (57).
"It was really hard,"
Grace recalled.
"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."
Grace and Caitlin Leggett only discovered they were identical twins after Caitlin's leukaemia diagnosis.
Grace also played piano for Caitlin as she passed away peacefully, with music from her favourite pianist, Patrik Pietschmann, playing on a speaker.
"My sister had been scared of dying when she learned she had six months to live, but I think she was scared of a slow death, knowing she could die in six months.
So I'm just really grateful that it was really quick, and she didn't know."
Caitlin and Grace had always been close and shared a student house while both studying at the University of Bristol.
During Caitlin's illness, Grace left her job as a complex care personal assistant in Bristol to move back to Cardiff to be closer to family.
Initially believed to be fraternal twins because they developed in separate amniotic sacs, doctors discovered their genetic markers were identical while evaluating Grace as a potential stem cell donor.
This revelation was surprising but complicated Caitlin's treatment, as Grace was no longer eligible to donate stem cells due to their nearly identical DNA.
Caitlin's father, Ian, praised his daughter's "fighting spirit."
The day before Caitlin was admitted to the hospital for the final time, she, Grace, and Neve went to try on bridesmaids' dresses together. Caitlin was to be maid of honour at the wedding of Ian's partner, Sarah.
"She mentioned to a couple of people that she was the happiest that she'd ever been in her last two weeks,"
Neve said.
"Even though she won't be there for the wedding, we got to get dressed up, all together."
Ethan shared that his strongest memories of Caitlin are filled with laughter.
"She was just really funny. It's not the type of funny that's just telling jokes, it's sibling banter that just bounces off each other – we're just one upping each other, like tennis,"
he said.
"Caitlin was a warm, bubbly, humble and loving daughter who was considerate and endlessly kind to others,"
added their mother, Jennifer.
"She was fiercely independently-minded and stoic in her attitude to life."
What is Acute Myeloid Leukaemia?
Leukaemia is a cancer affecting white blood cells. Acute leukaemia progresses rapidly and aggressively, typically requiring immediate treatment.
According to the NHS, symptoms of AML can include paleness, fatigue, breathlessness, unusual or frequent bruising or bleeding, and unintentional weight loss.
Caitlin's father, Ian, commended her "fighting spirit" and her refusal to give up hope, as well as her ability to focus on the present and not worry about uncontrollable factors.
"Caitlin was very positive and had the outlook that things will always be OK in the end, and if it's not OK, it's not the end,"
he added.
On 27 June, the Leggett family paused the GoFundMe campaign set up for Caitlin's treatment. The total raised was £127,722. Grace stated that the funds will be donated to charity or used to honour Caitlin's memory.
A donation will be made to Teenage Cancer Trust to fund a lead nurse overseeing the service in Cardiff and South Wales for one year.
Another donation will be made to Leukaemia UK to support a research grant aimed at developing new treatments and translating scientific advances into clinical practice for leukaemia.
A portion of the funds will also be allocated for tree planting, memorial plaques, school awards, and a dedicated piano in the hospital.
