Tatiana Schlossberg, the granddaughter of former President John F. Kennedy and daughter of Caroline Kennedy, publicly shared her diagnosis of terminal cancer in an essay featured in The New Yorker. The 35-year-old revealed that she has acute myeloid leukemia, specifically a rare mutation known as Inversion 3. Her diagnosis came on May 25, 2024, the same day she welcomed her second child.
Schlossberg’s life took an unexpected turn shortly after her daughter’s birth when doctors found her white blood cell count to be alarmingly high. Following this discovery, she learned that standard treatment options would not cure her condition. Instead, she faces a challenging treatment regimen that includes months of chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, and additional chemotherapy cycles to prevent recurrence.
In her poignant essay, Schlossberg expressed disbelief at her diagnosis, reflecting on her health prior to the discovery: “I had swum a mile in the pool the day before, nine months pregnant. I wasn’t sick. I didn’t feel sick.” She later stated, “This could not possibly be my life.”
After spending five weeks at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, her health showed some improvement, allowing her to continue treatment from home. She also received care at Memorial Sloan Kettering, where she underwent a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately, despite her efforts, she experienced a relapse, necessitating another round of chemotherapy.
The impact of her illness extends beyond her personal struggles. Schlossberg emphasized the support of her family, stating, “My parents and my brother and sister have been raising my children and sitting in my various hospital rooms almost every day for the last year and a half.” She acknowledged their emotional burden, saying, “They have held my hand unflinchingly while I have suffered.”
Schlossberg articulated her feelings of guilt regarding the additional tragedy her illness has brought to her family. “For my whole life, I have tried to be good, to be a good student and a good sister and a good daughter,” she wrote. “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.”
In January 2025, Schlossberg began participating in a clinical trial for CAR T-cell therapy, a form of immunotherapy that has shown promise for certain blood cancers, including leukemia. Reflecting on her prognosis, she shared a conversation with her doctor: “He could keep me alive for a year, maybe.” Her immediate concern shifted to her children, whose memories she feared might fade: “My kids, whose faces live permanently on the inside of my eyelids, wouldn’t remember me.”
Alongside her personal battles, Schlossberg addressed larger issues regarding healthcare access under the current administration. She voiced her concerns about her cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been nominated to serve in President Donald Trump’s cabinet as Health and Human Services Secretary. In her essay, she criticized him for what she described as his disregard for “logic and common sense,” particularly concerning funding cuts to vaccine research since assuming office in February.
Schlossberg noted her anxiety about future vaccine access, stating, “I was especially concerned that I wouldn’t be able to get mine again, leaving me to spend the rest of my life immunocompromised, along with millions of cancer survivors, small children, and the elderly.”
As she navigates her diagnosis, Schlossberg’s focus remains on cherishing her time with her children. She mused about memory and legacy, acknowledging the limitations of human recollection: “Sometimes I trick myself into thinking I’ll remember this forever, I’ll remember this when I’m dead. Obviously, I won’t.”
Her honest and heartfelt reflections provide insight into the personal challenges faced by those battling terminal illness, underscoring the intersection of health, family, and broader societal issues.
