Tatiana Schlossberg, the environmental journalist and granddaughter of former US President John F. Kennedy, has publicly shared her heartbreaking terminal cancer diagnosis in a deeply personal essay.
A Shocking Discovery After Childbirth
The 35-year-old daughter of former US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy disclosed that her cancer journey began in May 2024, just hours after she gave birth to her daughter. Medical professionals noticed an abnormally high white blood cell count during routine checks, which ultimately led to the devastating diagnosis.
Doctors identified her condition as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a rare genetic mutation called Inversion 3. This specific anomaly occurs in less than 2% of AML cases and is known for its poor prognosis, with her doctors estimating she has less than a year to live.
Schlossberg expressed her initial disbelief at the diagnosis, recalling how she had swum a mile in the pool just one day before delivery while nine months pregnant. "I wasn't sick. I didn't feel sick. I was actually one of the healthiest people I knew," she wrote in her essay published in The New Yorker on Saturday, November 22.
Grueling Treatment and Family Support
Her medical journey has been extraordinarily challenging, involving multiple rounds of chemotherapy and two bone-marrow transplants, including one from her sister. She also participated in two clinical trials in her fight against the disease.
The treatment process brought severe complications, including an Epstein-Barr virus diagnosis that severely damaged her kidneys and necessitated her learning to walk again due to significant muscle wastage. Throughout this ordeal, she has relied on the unwavering support of her husband, George Moran, and their two young children - a 3-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter.
Her siblings, Rose - a filmmaker, and Jack - who recently announced a congressional run, have been instrumental in helping raise her children and providing constant support during her illness.
Family Legacy and Healthcare Critique
Schlossberg's diagnosis adds another painful chapter to the Kennedy family's history of tragedy. She expressed profound regret about adding to her mother's sorrow and the family's collective grief, noting that she had always strived to protect her mother from additional pain.
In her essay, she also directed criticism toward her cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., recently confirmed as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. She expressed concern that his policies are straining the nation's healthcare system and scientific research efforts.
"As I spent more and more of my life under the care of doctors, nurses, and researchers striving to improve the lives of others, I watched as Bobby cut nearly a half billion dollars for research into mRNA vaccines, technology that could be used against certain cancers," she wrote. These funding cuts initially affected the medical center where she received treatment, making the healthcare system she depends on feel "strained, shaky."
Her powerful essay serves as both a personal testament to her cancer battle and a commentary on the importance of supporting medical research and healthcare infrastructure.
