Tatiana Schlossberg, the granddaughter of former President John F. Kennedy, disclosed on Saturday that she has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. In an essay published by The New Yorker, the 35-year-old environmental journalist revealed she has acute myeloid leukemia, specifically a rare mutation known as Inversion 3. This diagnosis came on May 25, 2024, the same day she welcomed her second child.
Just hours after giving birth, Schlossberg learned that her white blood cell count was abnormally high, leading to the shocking diagnosis. In her essay, she expressed disbelief at the news, stating, “I did not—could not—believe that they were talking about me. I had swum a mile in the pool the day before, nine months pregnant. I wasn’t sick. I didn’t feel sick. I was actually one of the healthiest people I knew.”
This unexpected diagnosis has set her on a challenging path. She mentioned that standard treatments would not cure her condition, and she is now facing months of chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, and further treatment to prevent recurrence.
Family Support and Ongoing Treatment
Schlossberg spent five weeks at Columbia-Presbyterian hospital, where her condition stabilized enough for her to begin treatment at home. She later received a bone marrow transplant at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Despite her initial treatment, she experienced a relapse and required additional chemotherapy.
In her essay, she reflected on the emotional toll this journey has taken on her family. “My parents and my brother and sister, too, have been raising my children and sitting in my various hospital rooms almost every day for the last year and a half,” she wrote. “They have held my hand unflinchingly while I have suffered, trying not to show their pain and sadness in order to protect me from it.”
Schlossberg noted the weight of adding this challenge to her family’s life, saying, “Now I have added a new tragedy to her life, to our family’s life, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.”
Clinical Trials and Broader Concerns
In January, she enrolled in a clinical trial for CAR T-cell therapy, a form of immunotherapy that has shown promise in treating certain blood cancers, including leukemia. She conveyed the gravity of her situation, stating, “During the latest clinical trial, my doctor told me that he could keep me alive for a year, maybe.” Her immediate concern turned to her children, as she feared they might not remember her.
In her poignant essay, Schlossberg also addressed the broader implications of healthcare under the current political landscape. She criticized Robert F. Kennedy Jr., her cousin, who has been nominated to serve in President Donald Trump’s cabinet as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Schlossberg expressed concern about his stance on vaccines and the potential impact on immunocompromised individuals, including cancer survivors. “Bobby is a known skeptic of vaccines,” she noted, emphasizing the anxiety surrounding access to medical care in her situation.
As she navigates her illness, Schlossberg is focusing on creating lasting memories with her children. “Sometimes I trick myself into thinking I’ll remember this forever, I’ll remember this when I’m dead,” she shared. “Obviously, I won’t. But since I don’t know what death is like and there’s no one to tell me what comes after it, I’ll keep pretending. I will keep trying to remember.”
Tatiana Schlossberg’s candid reflections illuminate the complexities of facing terminal illness while emphasizing the profound connections that family and love provide during challenging times.
