Caitlin Leggett has six months to live unless her family raises £500,000 for an unlicensed US drug. The 24-year-old identical twin faces aggressive leukaemia that standard UK treatments cannot stop. Her sister Grace is now leading a desperate campaign to fund the overseas therapy before time runs out. This life-saving medication costs $150,000 and remains unavailable under British regulations. The family must navigate complex fundraising while doctors warn that Caitlin will not reach her next birthday without immediate intervention.
A six-month deadline for a 24-year-old twin
Caitlin Leggett, 24, held the diagnosis letter as her hands shook in a quiet room. Doctors gave the identical twin just six months to live after aggressive leukaemia returned. The moment was 'unthinkable' for Caitlin, who described the shock of losing hope in standard care AOL reported[3].
Treatments available in the UK have failed to stop the cancer's spread. Without a new intervention, she will not reach her next birthday. Her sister Grace immediately shifted from grief to action to find a way out.
The family now faces a countdown measured in days rather than years. They are racing against a prognosis that leaves them with less than half a year. This urgency drives their desperate search for any remaining option.
The $150,000 cost of an unapproved drug
Caitlin Leggett needs a specific leukemia drug available only in the United States. This treatment is not licensed for use in the UK. Her family must raise £500,000 to cover the total cost, the Bristol Post reported[1].
The sum includes flights, accommodation, and the medical fees themselves. It far exceeds the typical budget for emergency care. Standard NHS rules prevent funding for therapies not yet approved by British regulators. The system leaves families with no local alternative when standard drugs fail.
Grace Leggett sat at her kitchen table late last Tuesday. She spread out bank statements and donation receipts across the wood. Her sister's life depended on filling the gap between their savings and the final bill. They counted every pound while the clock ticked down.
A medical expert confirmed the overseas drug could work for Caitlin's specific case. The therapy targets the exact mutation driving her cancer. Without it, she has no other option left in Britain.
Watching her identical twin fade is a unique agony for Grace. They share the same face, yet one is dying while the other watches helplessly. The emotional toll weighs heavily on the sister who organizes the campaign. She sees her mirror image slipping away day by day.
What families face when the clock runs out
Caitlin Leggett remains in Bristol, fighting with hope while her days grow short. Her identical twin sister, Grace, now leads a campaign to secure care that UK regulators have not yet approved. The pair celebrated their 24th birthday together recently, but time is no longer on their side the GoFundMe page notes[4].
Thousands of patients face this exact barrier when rare cancers require unapproved global therapies. Regulatory gaps leave desperate families dependent on private fundraising rather than public health systems. Insurance policies often exclude experimental overseas care, forcing families to check coverage limits before it is too late.
Grace has organized the 'Saving Caitlin' drive as the family scrambles to meet a £500,000 target. She knows the deadline approaches in just three weeks. The sister's resolve to keep raising money stands firm, regardless of the final outcome.
Grace Leggett continues to organize donations as the three-week deadline approaches. The 'Saving Caitlin' drive aims to bridge the gap between their savings and the total cost. Every pound raised brings the twins one step closer to securing the only remaining treatment option.
