In an emotional revelation shared through an essay in “The New Yorker,” Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of the late John F. Kennedy, has bravely announced that she is facing a terminal cancer diagnosis. Her oncologist has projected that she may have about a year left to live.
The 34-year-old journalist, daughter of Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg, received the devastating diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia in May 2024, shortly after the birth of her second child. Her illness presents a rare mutation typically found in older adults, making her case particularly challenging.
Since her diagnosis, Schlossberg has endured multiple chemotherapy sessions and undergone two stem cell transplants. The first transplant utilized cells from her sister, while the second involved an unrelated donor. Despite these efforts and participation in clinical trials, her prognosis remains dire. During a recent trial, her doctor candidly informed her that he might be able to extend her life by another year, at best.
Amid her personal battle, Schlossberg has observed the political arena, where her cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been active. His political decisions, she noted, could adversely affect individuals like herself who are battling cancer. Specifically, she expressed concern over his budget cuts, amounting to nearly half a billion dollars, aimed at research for mRNA vaccines—a technology that holds potential against certain cancers.
Her essay, poignantly published on the 62nd anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s assassination, also reflects on the personal anguish of her condition. She expressed sorrow over the likelihood that her young children may not retain memories of her and lamented that she will miss out on the precious moments of life she cherishes with her husband, George Moran. While her family strives to shield her from their own distress, Schlossberg acknowledges that the weight of their shared pain is palpable each day.
Schlossberg wrote about her fears that her daughter and son won’t remember her and feeling cheated and sad that she won’t get to keep living “the wonderful life” she had with her husband, George Moran. While her parents and siblings try to hide their pain from her, she said she feels it every day.
“For my whole life, I have tried to be good, to be a good student and a good sister and a good daughter, and to protect my mother and never make her upset or angry. 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 wrote.
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