Tatiana Schlossberg, daughter of Caroline Kennedy and granddaughter of President John F. Kennedy, has publicly revealed her diagnosis of terminal cancer. In an essay published in The New Yorker, the 35-year-old disclosed that she has acute myeloid leukemia with a rare mutation known as Inversion 3. This life-altering diagnosis came on May 25, 2024, the same day she welcomed her second child.
Schlossberg experienced complications shortly after childbirth when doctors found her white blood cell count to be alarmingly high. Despite her previously active lifestyle, including swimming a mile the day prior to her daughter’s birth, she faced an unexpected and harsh reality. “I did not—could not—believe that they were talking about me,” she expressed in her essay, reflecting on the shock of her diagnosis.
Treatment and Family Support
For the past year and a half, Schlossberg has undergone extensive treatment, including chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Despite her efforts, she experienced a relapse. She shared how her family has been a constant source of support throughout her ordeal, stating, “My parents and my brother and sister, too, have been raising my children and sitting in my various hospital rooms almost every day.” Their unwavering presence, she noted, has been both a gift and a shared burden.
Schlossberg’s treatment journey included a five-week stay at Columbia-Presbyterian and participation in a clinical trial for CAR T-cell therapy, a promising form of immunotherapy for blood cancers. In her essay, she discussed the stark realization from her doctor that she might have only one more year to live. “My first thought was that my kids, whose faces live permanently on the inside of my eyelids, wouldn’t remember me,” she wrote.
Concerns About Healthcare Access
In addition to her personal narrative, Schlossberg addressed broader issues regarding healthcare access under the current political climate. She criticized her cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been nominated for a cabinet position by President Donald Trump. Schlossberg expressed deep concern over Kennedy’s skepticism towards vaccines and the potential implications for immunocompromised individuals like herself. “I was especially concerned that I wouldn’t be able to get mine again, leaving me to spend the rest of my life immunocompromised,” she articulated.
As an environmental journalist and former municipal reporter, Schlossberg emphasized her desire to focus on being present with her family during this challenging time. “Sometimes I trick myself into thinking I’ll remember this forever, I’ll remember this when I’m dead,” she reflected. This poignant insight underscores her struggle with the uncertainty of the future while cherishing the moments with her loved ones.
Through her candid essay, Schlossberg not only shares her personal battle with cancer but also highlights significant healthcare issues, making her story resonate beyond her own circumstances. The intersection of her family legacy, her health struggles, and her advocacy for accessible healthcare paints a complex picture of a woman fighting for her life while grappling with the implications of her diagnosis.
