Ignored by Doctors 9 Times – Now the Mom of a Young Son Has About a Year to Live Due to a Terminal Illness

It began around the holidays with what seemed like a passing stomach bug — or maybe just stress — but it didn't go away. Despite escalating symptoms, her concerns were never met with urgency. That year of medical dismissal, she believes, cost her a chance at early intervention.

For nearly a year, Georgia-Leigh Gardiner sought answers for the pain consuming her body, but doctor after doctor dismissed her concerns. By the time someone finally listened, it was too late. At just 28, the mother of a young son was told she had a terminal illness with a grim prognosis: around one year to live.

Now, Georgia-Leigh is navigating the cruel aftermath of being ignored when it mattered most. Her journey lays bare the devastating impact of medical dismissal, the urgency of listening to people's health concerns, and the fierce love of a mother racing time to leave behind memories that will outlive her.

Early Symptoms and Initial Medical Visits

In late 2024, Georgia-Leigh began experiencing persistent discomfort in her upper abdomen. The pain was sharp and constant, accompanied by nausea and difficulty keeping food down. Though she had been fit and healthy before, her appetite vanished almost overnight.

Her body started rejecting meals entirely. Even water became difficult to tolerate. She found herself vomiting after eating and quickly began losing weight. In less than a year, she dropped 18 kilograms, nearly 40 pounds. Concerned, she scheduled an appointment with her general practitioner.

The diagnosis was minor: likely acid reflux, she was told, and was sent home with lansoprazole, a common medication for indigestion. But her symptoms didn't improve. She returned again and again, sometimes to her GP, other times to Leeds General Infirmary.

Between six and nine visits were logged over the course of several months, but the outcome remained the same: her concerns were dismissed, her symptoms labeled as non-urgent. She later explained:

"I wasn't getting any answers. I was still losing weight. It was making me lethargic, I was in constant pain, and I couldn't eat. I was being sick, so my quality of life was not good and I wasn’t being taken seriously."

By early 2025, her daily life was dominated by discomfort and fatigue. Blood tests showed minor irregularities, but no further testing was ordered. As the months passed, Georgia-Leigh's condition steadily deteriorated.

What began as manageable discomfort had become an all-consuming illness. She struggled to care for her two-year-old son, Arlo, while navigating the pain and discomfort.

"When I was going to the hospital, they were sending me home. It was impossible," she shared. "I don't know if that's because of my age. If somebody older would have gone in with the same things I was experiencing, they might have been taken more seriously at the start."

With each visit, her sense of urgency grew, but the medical response did not. It wasn't until mid-2025, nearly a year after her symptoms began, that her case was finally treated with the seriousness she had been pleading for all along.

The Referral That Led to a Diagnosis

Georgia-Leigh's turning point came during a visit to a different general practitioner, a female physician who took her concerns seriously for the first time. During the exam, the doctor noticed a lump in Georgia-Leigh's breast.

Though unrelated to her abdominal issues, the discovery led to a referral to the non-specific symptoms pathway, a lesser-known route within the NHS that investigates vague but concerning symptoms. Tests at the breast clinic came back clear, but additional examinations were ordered.

She underwent an endoscopy, which involves threading a camera down the throat to inspect the digestive tract. The findings raised immediate concern, so a follow-up CT scan was quickly arranged.

Soon after, she and her fiancé, Callum, were asked to attend a meeting with surgical outpatients at St James' University Hospital. They thought the appointment would focus on possible treatments, perhaps even surgical removal of whatever had been discovered.

Instead, on Friday, June 13, 2025, they were told that Georgia-Leigh had a rare and aggressive form of stomach cancer: poorly differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma, known as linitis plastica.

A Rare and Aggressive Cancer

Linitis plastica is an uncommon and particularly aggressive form of stomach cancer. It is characterized by the thickening and hardening of the stomach wall, which makes it difficult to detect in its early stages. Often, by the time symptoms become obvious, the cancer has already spread.

In Georgia-Leigh's case, the diagnosis came far too late for curative treatment. By June 2025, the cancer had spread beyond her stomach, reaching the peritoneum — the membrane lining the abdominal cavity — and infiltrating the lymph nodes near her lungs.

Suspicious spots were also noted on her lungs, still awaiting further testing. Doctors told her the cancer was incurable and classified as stage 4. She was given an estimated life expectancy of about a year, depending on how her body responds to treatment.

Emotional Impact of the Diagnosis

The moment marked the end of a long search for answers and the beginning of a new, much more urgent journey. But the reality of Georgia-Leigh's diagnosis didn't fully register in the moment. She recalled:

"I think I even laughed and asked Callum if what they were saying was real. I think I went through every emotion you could think of in the space of five minutes."

But the shock quickly gave way to silence. Once home, she withdrew entirely for three days, unable to speak, overwhelmed by the weight of what she had been told. The full meaning of a terminal cancer diagnosis began to settle in, and with it, the painful clarity of what she stood to lose.

"I said, 'Am I going to die? I can't die, I have a two-year-old son,'" she remembered. The thought of missing out on Arlo's life — his birthdays, school days, and milestones — was more than she could process.

Though she was young and otherwise healthy, her world had suddenly narrowed to an urgent, uncertain present. Each emotion came in waves: confusion, sorrow, anger. And behind it all, one lingering question: what if someone had listened sooner?

Treatment Options and Clinical Trial Enrollment

In the weeks following her diagnosis, Georgia-Leigh began searching for every possible treatment option. Though doctors had told her the cancer was incurable, she was determined to slow its progression and extend the time she had left with her family.

She is now scheduled to begin chemotherapy in mid-July. The treatment, while not curative, may help shrink the tumors and relieve symptoms. After additional biopsy testing, she was found eligible for a clinical trial through the NHS — a rare opportunity that could offer access to advanced therapies.

Beyond conventional treatment, Georgia-Leigh has turned to supplementary approaches. She regularly attends sessions in an oxygen chamber, follows a strict alkaline diet, and is exploring holistic care as a way to support her body during treatment.

She's also in contact with the Hallwang Clinic in Germany, a private facility known for providing experimental cancer treatments not currently available through the UK's public health system. However, the cost is significant, and funding such care is only possible through outside support. She says:

"I'm young, I'm healthy other than the weight loss, and I'm full of fight. I start chemo in a couple of weeks… and I might be eligible for a clinical trial—we're just waiting for one more set of results."

For Georgia-Leigh, the hope is not for a cure, but for time. Time to try every path. Time to stay present with her son. Time to fight.

Making the Most of the Time Left

With a terminal diagnosis and a young child at home, Georgia-Leigh's focus has shifted toward the memories she can still create. Arlo is too young to understand what's happening, but he remains at the center of every decision she makes.

"I don't ever want him to forget who I am," she said. "I want to see him grow up and get married, but if that's not an option, I want him to be able to look back and see all these memories. Even if he doesn't physically remember them, at least he's got them in front of him."

Some of the funds raised through her GoFundMe are going toward experiences they can share as a family, including the possibility of a holiday. She's not concerned with the destination. Her only wish is to be somewhere peaceful with Callum and Arlo, making the most of their time together.

Before her diagnosis, Georgia-Leigh and Callum had planned to marry in Italy someday, a dream location she had always hoped to visit. But with her prognosis now measured in months, they've chosen to bring the wedding forward to September 2025.

Determined to celebrate their relationship while she still feels well enough, Georgia-Leigh has partnered with a charity called the Wedding Wishing Well Foundation. The organization helps terminally ill individuals experience their dream wedding in the time they have left. She shared:

"I've got my dress. It's beautiful, classic and royal, but it's not too slick. It's a romantic style dress. And definitely ivory, not white."

Though the location will no longer be Italy, the meaning behind the day has deepened. For Georgia-Leigh, it's not about where they say their vows. It's about creating a lasting moment for her, Callum, and Arlo to hold onto.

Community Support and Fundraising Efforts

As Georgia-Leigh's story circulated in national media, it sparked an immediate and deeply emotional response from readers. Many were struck by the injustice of her delayed diagnosis, and even more by the reality of a young mother now racing against time to stay present in her son's life.

Support came from friends, family, and strangers alike. In just three weeks, her GoFundMe campaign raised over $9500, helping to ease the financial burden of treatment and allowing her to focus on spending time with her loved ones.

In reader forums and comment sections, the words were raw and empathetic. Some described the situation as "absolutely heartbreaking," while others reflected on how a "young young mother" had seen her life "implode" almost overnight.

One comment simply read, "What a sad story. I hope something can be done for this poor lady and her family," echoing the thoughts of many who felt helpless but moved to express support. Others praised Georgia-Leigh's strength and clarity, calling her "an unbelievably brave and serene lady," and offering hope that she would "respond well to treatment."

The fundraising efforts haven't stopped online. Friends have stepped in to organize community events in her honor, including a ladies' night ballroom event that sold out all 200 tickets. The outpouring of support has been both unexpected and deeply moving for Georgia-Leigh.

She continues to update supporters regularly through her GoFundMe page, offering gratitude and transparency about her journey. Alongside treatment and memory-making, Georgia-Leigh has taken on a quiet advocacy role, determined to prevent others from facing the same delays she did.

Reflecting on her experience, she believes her age may have contributed to how her symptoms were handled, and she wants to change that perception. She now encourages others, especially younger patients, to trust their instincts and push for further investigation when something feels wrong.

Persistent stomach pain, rapid weight loss, and vomiting were all clear warning signs in her case, but they were overlooked for nearly a year. "If someone else had this type of cancer and they can catch it at an earlier stage by making doctors do the correct tests, then at least I know that I've helped somebody," she said.

Georgia-Leigh has also agreed to undergo genetic testing. Linitis plastica is usually found in people decades older, and doctors are unsure how someone so young and previously healthy developed the disease. Understanding the cause, she hopes, could help inform research and early detection efforts in the future.

What to Know About Stomach Cancer

Georgia-Leigh was ultimately diagnosed with a rare form of stomach cancer, but even more common types often go unnoticed in the early stages.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, typically begins in the inner lining of the stomach and can grow deeper as it develops. Globally, it's among the most common cancers, though cases have declined in the U.S., where it accounts for about 1.5 percent of new cancer diagnoses annually.

One of the greatest challenges with stomach cancer is that early symptoms are often vague or mistaken for less serious conditions like indigestion. By the time clear symptoms emerge, the disease is frequently advanced.

• Typical signs and symptoms can include:
• Unexplained weight loss
• Nausea and vomiting
• Heartburn or indigestion
• Loss of appetite
• Feeling full after small meals
• Stomach pain, often above the belly button
• Fatigue or weakness
• Black stool or vomiting blood

These symptoms overlap with other gastrointestinal conditions, which is why timely evaluation and persistence are crucial. If symptoms are persistent or worsening, medical follow-up is essential.