It began innocently enough — what seemed like a persistent stomach bug or holiday stress. But for 28-year-old Georgia-Leigh Gardiner, the symptoms were the beginning of a devastating medical journey. A young mother from Leeds, Georgia-Leigh spent nearly a year pleading for answers as her health steadily deteriorated, only to be met with dismissal after dismissal from doctors. It wasn’t until mid-2025 that the truth emerged: she had linitis plastica, a rare and aggressive form of stomach cancer, now classified as terminal.
Medical Dismissal and Delayed Diagnosis
Georgia-Leigh’s symptoms began in late 2024: persistent upper abdominal pain, rapid weight loss, nausea, and vomiting. Despite multiple visits to both her general practitioner and Leeds General Infirmary — between six and nine total — her concerns were brushed aside. Initially diagnosed with acid reflux and prescribed lansoprazole, her condition only worsened. Her body rejected food and even water. Within months, she lost nearly 40 pounds.
Her condition was not considered urgent. Only when she met with a new female GP who detected a lump in her breast did things finally shift. That unrelated finding led to a referral through the NHS’s non-specific symptoms pathway. Further tests revealed the cancer.
A Shocking Diagnosis
On June 13, 2025, Georgia-Leigh and her fiancé, Callum, were called in to discuss treatment options. But the news was far worse than they feared. She was diagnosed with linitis plastica, a rare form of gastric adenocarcinoma. The cancer had already spread to her peritoneum and lymph nodes, and suspicious spots were found on her lungs.Living with a Terminal Illness
Doctors gave her a prognosis of about a year. She is now scheduled to begin chemotherapy, hoping to slow the progression. Eligible for a clinical trial, she’s also exploring alternative and experimental therapies, including care through Germany’s Hallwang Clinic. But these treatments come with significant costs, leading her to launch a GoFundMe campaign.
