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

Sun Nov 23 2025 07:53:02 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a poignant essay, Tatiana Schlossberg, the granddaughter of John F. Kennedy Jr., discloses her battle with acute myeloid leukemia and the emotional impact on her family.

Tatiana Schlossberg, 35, shared her heartbreaking diagnosis of terminal cancer in an essay published on the anniversary of her grandfather's assassination. Despite previously leading a healthy lifestyle, she now faces a grim prognosis after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia post childbirth. The essay reflects on her fears for her young children and the social implications of her cousin's recent political appointment as Trump's health secretary.

Tatiana Schlossberg, the granddaughter of former US President John F Kennedy Jr, has announced her diagnosis with an aggressive form of cancer, revealing that she has been given less than a year to live.

The 35-year-old shared her heartbreaking news in an essay published in The New Yorker, coinciding with the 62nd anniversary of her grandfather's assassination. Schlossberg, a mother of two and climate journalist, has been a vocal critic of her second cousin Robert F Kennedy Jr.'s position as US health secretary under President Donald Trump.

In her essay, titled 'A Battle With My Blood', Schlossberg describes being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia after giving birth in May 2024. Despite leading a previously healthy lifestyle—engaging in activities like running, skiing, and even swimming in the Hudson River for charity—she faced a severe health crisis.

Even with treatments including chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, doctors have expressed that her prognosis remains dire. During the latest clinical trial, my doctor told me that he could keep me alive for a year, maybe, Schlossberg writes. Her thoughts immediately go to her children, fearing they wouldn't remember her.

Schlossberg, whose family has been riddled with tragedies, speaks to the emotional toll her illness has on her mother, former US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy. She laments adding yet another tragedy to her family's legacy, reflecting, For my whole life, I have tried to be good... Now I have added a new tragedy to her life.

Additionally, her essay casts a critical light on family dynamics, as she watches her cousin's political rise and the implications it holds for public health, stating, Suddenly, the healthcare system on which I relied felt strained, shaky.

Earlier this month, her brother Jack Schlossberg announced plans to run for Congress in New York, sharing her essay with the message, 'Life is short - let it rip.' The Kennedy family's involvement in US politics and the personal tragedies they have faced have made them an enduring presence in America's narrative.