Identical Twin Sisters, 24, Say It’s ‘Unthinkable’ to Be Apart After One Is Given ‘6 Months to Live’ amid Terminal Diagnosis

A 24-year-old who has been given six months to live following a terminal cancer diagnosis has said the thought of leaving her identical twin sister is “unthinkable.”

In May 2026, Caitlin Leggett received the devastating news that her acute myeloid leukemia (AML) had returned, after first being diagnosed with the disease in 2025. According to a GoFundMe set up by her twin Grace to support her cancer journey — called “Saving Caitlin” —Caitlin and her family were told she has “only six months to live” following her cancer recurrence.

Identical Twin Sisters, 24, Say It’s ‘Unthinkable’ to Be Apart After One Is Given ‘6 Months to Live’ amid Terminal Diagnosis
Caitlin Leggett was first diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 2025, before being told the disease had returned in May this year

By Escher Walcott  Published on June 10, 2026 10:40AM EDT

Identical Twin Sisters, 24, Say It’s ‘Unthinkable’ to Be Apart After One Is Given ‘6 Months to Live’ amid Terminal Diagnosis
Caitlin Leggett was first diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 2025, before being told the disease had returned in May this year

Caitlin Leggett’s acute myeloid leukemia (AML) returned in May 2026, leaving her with a terminal six-month prognosis, according to her identical twin sister Grace
A GoFundMe set up by Grace has raised over $113,000 to help 24-year-old Caitlin access urgent overseas medical treatments not available in the U.K.
Caitlin and Grace are devastated by the diagnosis, calling the thought of separation “unthinkable”

A 24-year-old who has been given six months to live following a terminal cancer diagnosis has said the thought of leaving her identical twin sister is “unthinkable.”


In May 2026, Caitlin Leggett received the devastating news that her acute myeloid leukemia (AML) had returned, after first being diagnosed with the disease in 2025. According to a GoFundMe set up by her twin Grace to support her cancer journey — called “Saving Caitlin” —Caitlin and her family were told she has “only six months to live” following her cancer recurrence.

“We’re only 24 — nobody expects this to happen … Being twins as well, you’re not supposed to have one twin not be there,” Grace, 24, told the BBC.

“It’s unthinkable,” Caitlin added. “We’ve gone through life together and I don’t want our story to end here.”

Caitlin received her diagnosis in April 2025 and her only symptom was a persistent rash, per the BBC.

AML is a blood cancer in which the bone marrow creates a large number of abnormal blood cells, according to the National Cancer Institute. Symptoms include fever, feeling tired, and easy bruising or bleeding.

Cailtin was diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of AML that had a high-risk mutation and was told a bone marrow transplant would be her “best chance of survival,” per the GoFundMe. She was admitted to the Teenage Cancer Trust ward in Cardiff, Wales, and went into remission after two months of chemotherapy.

“…. Due to difficulties finding a suitable donor [for the transplant], Caitlin suffered an abnormal relapse and the cancer returned to her skin. After a successful clinical trial and bone marrow transplant, Caitlin achieved complete remission once more,” a description on the page adds.

She and sister Grace only discovered they were identical twins after Caitlin’s diagnosis as doctors discovered their markers were exactly the same while assessing Grace as a potential stem cell donor, per the BBC. This meant that Grace was no longer eligible to donate her stem cells to Caitlin due to their near-identical DNA.

Caitlin learned her cancer had returned last month Caitlin during a bone marrow monitoring appointment, per the outlet.

“Last week, our worst fears were realized when, once again, Caitlin’s leukemia returned. We have been told that Caitlin has only six months to live,” Grace continued on the GoFundMe. She added that Caitlin needs “a second transplant that cannot be performed in the U.K

Identical Twin Sisters, 24, Say It’s ‘Unthinkable’ to Be Apart After One Is Given ‘6 Months to Live’ amid Terminal Diagnosis
Caitlin Leggett was first diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 2025, before being told the disease had returned in May this year

By Escher Walcott  Published on June 10, 2026 10:40AM EDT

Caitlin Leggett’s acute myeloid leukemia (AML) returned in May 2026, leaving her with a terminal six-month prognosis, according to her identical twin sister Grace
A GoFundMe set up by Grace has raised over $113,000 to help 24-year-old Caitlin access urgent overseas medical treatments not available in the U.K.
Caitlin and Grace are devastated by the diagnosis, calling the thought of separation “unthinkable”
A 24-year-old who has been given six months to live following a terminal cancer diagnosis has said the thought of leaving her identical twin sister is “unthinkable.”


In May 2026, Caitlin Leggett received the devastating news that her acute myeloid leukemia (AML) had returned, after first being diagnosed with the disease in 2025. According to a GoFundMe set up by her twin Grace to support her cancer journey — called “Saving Caitlin” —Caitlin and her family were told she has “only six months to live” following her cancer recurrence.

“We’re only 24 — nobody expects this to happen … Being twins as well, you’re not supposed to have one twin not be there,” Grace, 24, told the BBC.

“It’s unthinkable,” Caitlin added. “We’ve gone through life together and I don’t want our story to end here.”

Two individuals pointing at engraved names on a brick wall
The Leggett sisters.

Caitlin received her diagnosis in April 2025 and her only symptom was a persistent rash, per the BBC.

AML is a blood cancer in which the bone marrow creates a large number of abnormal blood cells, according to the National Cancer Institute. Symptoms include fever, feeling tired, and easy bruising or bleeding.

Cailtin was diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of AML that had a high-risk mutation and was told a bone marrow transplant would be her “best chance of survival,” per the GoFundMe. She was admitted to the Teenage Cancer Trust ward in Cardiff, Wales, and went into remission after two months of chemotherapy.

“…. Due to difficulties finding a suitable donor [for the transplant], Caitlin suffered an abnormal relapse and the cancer returned to her skin. After a successful clinical trial and bone marrow transplant, Caitlin achieved complete remission once more,” a description on the page adds.

She and sister Grace only discovered they were identical twins after Caitlin’s diagnosis as doctors discovered their markers were exactly the same while assessing Grace as a potential stem cell donor, per the BBC. This meant that Grace was no longer eligible to donate her stem cells to Caitlin due to their near-identical DNA.

A person sitting in a hospital bed smiling with a cleanshaven head wearing a lightcolored tank top
Caitlin Leggett.

Caitlin learned her cancer had returned last month Caitlin during a bone marrow monitoring appointment, per the outlet.

“Last week, our worst fears were realized when, once again, Caitlin’s leukemia returned. We have been told that Caitlin has only six months to live,” Grace continued on the GoFundMe. She added that Caitlin needs “a second transplant that cannot be performed in the U.K.”

Person lying in a hospital bed wearing a numbered shirt recovering or resting
Caitlin Leggett.
GoFundMe
In a video update posted on TikTok on Monday, June 8, Caitlin said while lying in a hospital bed that she’s been in the hospital for two weeks due to “complications” she experienced while on a medical trial to treat her cancer.

“It’s called Differentiation Syndrome,” she said. “[This] is where the immature blast cells — which are the leukemia cells — they’ve been changed into mature cells, which is what we want; however, once they change from immature to mature blasts they release toxins into my bloodstream.”

This causes … bruising [all over my body]… because it causes my platelets to drop by quite a bit. So at the moment I’m currently having about two platelet transfusions a day,” Caitlin shared

Grace has asked for donations to support her sister as she continues having medical treatments. “We have just celebrated our 24th birthday and without urgent overseas medical treatments, it will be her last,” she wrote on the GoFundMe, adding that her twin is “choosing to fight this diagnosis and seek life-saving treatment overseas.”

The fundraiser has so far raised over $113,000 in donations — of a nearly $670,000 goal — to help Caitlin cover her medical expenses.