Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of former President John F. Kennedy, disclosed on Saturday that she has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. In an emotional essay for The New Yorker, she revealed that her prognosis allows for only about a year of life, as stated by a doctor who treats her. Her condition, acute myeloid leukemia with a rare mutation, was identified following the birth of her second child when her white blood cell count was found to be high.
Schlossberg's candid narrative comes precisely on the 62nd anniversary of her grandfather’s assassination. In her piece, she shares her arduous experiences undergoing rounds of chemotherapy and two stem cell transplants, all the while participating in clinical trials in hopes of extending her life.
Moreover, she did not hold back in expressing criticism towards health policies championed by her cousin, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. These policies, she argues, could adversely affect patients suffering from cancer. Schlossberg's mother, Caroline Kennedy, has also urged senators to oppose Kennedy Jr.'s confirmation on the grounds of these damaging policies.
In her heart-wrenching reflection, Schlossberg discusses not only her medical battles but the emotional weight of potentially leaving her children—her daughter and son—without lasting memories of her. I feel cheated and sad that I won’t get to keep living 'the wonderful life' I had with my husband, she laments, outlining the personal tragedy her diagnosis adds not just to her life, but to her family's as well.
Amid this struggle, Schlossberg conveys a profound message of resilience, deliberating on her desires for healing, hope, and a fight that means so much more.
