Tatiana Schlossberg, the granddaughter of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, has disclosed her battle with terminal cancer through an essay published in The New Yorker. The 35-year-old environmental journalist revealed that she has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, featuring a rare mutation known as Inversion 3. This diagnosis came on May 25, 2024, the same day she welcomed her second child.
After giving birth, Schlossberg learned that her white blood cell count was alarmingly high, prompting further medical investigation. In her essay, she expressed disbelief at the diagnosis, 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.”
Struggles and Family Support
Schlossberg’s treatment journey has been challenging, involving five weeks at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital. She eventually underwent treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering, where she received a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately, she faced a relapse after a subsequent round of chemotherapy. “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 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.”
The emotional toll on her family has been profound. Schlossberg reflected on her efforts to be a good daughter and sister and grappled with the added tragedy her illness brings to her loved ones. “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,” she noted.
Innovative Treatment and Advocacy
In January, Schlossberg participated in a clinical trial for CAR T-cell therapy, an emerging form of immunotherapy that has shown promise against certain types of blood cancers, including leukemia. She recounted her doctor’s candid assessment during the trial, stating that he could potentially extend her life for about a year. “My first thought was that my kids, whose faces live permanently on the inside of my eyelids, wouldn’t remember me,” she wrote.
In her essay, Schlossberg also voiced her concerns regarding access to medical care under the current U.S. administration. She highlighted the implications of her cousin, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., being in a position that she believes undermines public health. Schlossberg criticized his stance on vaccines and claimed that his actions could affect millions, including cancer survivors and vulnerable populations.
Despite the dire circumstances, Schlossberg remains committed to being present for her children. “Sometimes I trick myself into thinking I’ll remember this forever, I’ll remember this when I’m dead,” she wrote. “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 journey serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the enduring strength of family support in the face of adversity.
