Tatiana Schlossberg, JFK's Granddaughter, Reveals Terminal Cancer Diagnosis

Fri Dec 05 2025 06:10:26 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a poignant essay, Tatiana Schlossberg opens up about her battle with acute myeloid leukaemia and the impact it has on her family and beliefs. The announcement coincided with the anniversary of her grandfather John F. Kennedy's assassination.

Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of John F. Kennedy Jr., announced her diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia in an essay published on the anniversary of her grandfather's assassination. The 35-year-old expressed concerns about her family's future, her health decisions, and her discomfort with the political landscape, particularly regarding her second cousin's role as health secretary. Despite an active lifestyle and treatment efforts, her prognosis remains grave, leading to reflections on her role as a mother and daughter.

In a poignant essay published in The New Yorker, Tatiana Schlossberg, the granddaughter of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, has publicly shared her devastating diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia, revealing she has been given less than a year to live. The 35-year-old mother of two disclosed her health condition on the 62nd anniversary of her grandfather's assassination, a moment that magnifies the personal stakes of her announcement.

Schlossberg, who is also a climate journalist and the daughter of former U.S. Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, articulated her distress as she faced an aggressive illness while reflecting on the broader implications of her family's legacy. In her essay titled A Battle With My Blood, she described her alarm at the confirmation of her second cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as U.S. health secretary during her battle with cancer.

Diagnosed after the birth of her second child in May 2024, Schlossberg recounted her life of health and athleticism, involving skiing and running, and how she once swam in the Hudson River for charity. Despite undergoing intensive treatments, including chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, doctors conveyed that her situation is bleak.

During the latest clinical trial, my doctor told me that he could keep me alive for a year, maybe, Schlossberg shared. The thought of her children not remembering her weighed heavily on her mind, considering the challenging path of motherhood amid her illness.

The emotional gravity of her situation also extends to her mother, Caroline, whose own history with tragedy and loss adds another dimension to Tatiana’s plight. In her heartfelt reflections, Schlossberg acknowledges the pain her diagnosis brings to her family, especially her mother, and the burden of adding yet another tragedy to their story.

Schlossberg's concern over healthcare reflects her increasing anxiety about the political decisions affecting lives like hers. Observing the confirmation of her cousin as health secretary from her hospital bed compounded her fears regarding the healthcare system she relies on.

This touching narrative resonates deeply amidst the Kennedy family's long-standing political connections in the U.S., marked by both public service and personal adversity. As her brother Jack Schlossberg prepares to embark on a congressional run, Tatiana’s essay serves as a painful but powerful testament to life's fragility and the profound connections that define their family's journey.