In brief
Tatiana Schlossberg, the granddaughter of former President John F. Kennedy, has announced her terminal diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia, revealing that she has less than a year to live. In a heartfelt essay, she describes the challenges of being a mother while battling an aggressive form of cancer and her concerns about her family's future. The announcement coincides with the anniversary of her grandfather's assassination and critiques her cousin's 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, with the 35-year-old saying she has been given less than a year to live.
Schlossberg, the daughter of former US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, shared the news in an essay published in The New Yorker on Saturday - the 62nd anniversary of her grandfather's assassination.
The mother of two and climate journalist has been an outspoken opponent of her relative Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s position as US health secretary under President Donald Trump.
In her essay, Schlossberg describes her alarm at watching her second cousin be approved for the post as she battled her illness.
According to Schlossberg's essay - titled 'A Battle With My Blood' - she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia after giving birth in May 2024.
She describes her previously healthy lifestyle, which included running, skiing, and even swimming in New York's Hudson River to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Despite treatment, including a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy, she notes that doctors have told her the outcome does not look promising. 'During the latest clinical trial, my doctor told me that he could keep me alive for a year, maybe,' she reflects.
Schlossberg expresses concern for her young children, saying, 'My kids, whose faces live permanently on the inside of my eyelids, wouldn't remember me.'
She also recounts the pain she anticipates her mother's experience, stating, '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.'
Additionally, Schlossberg critiques RFK Jr.'s appointment as Trump's health secretary, writing, 'I watched from my hospital bed as Bobby... was confirmed for the position, despite never having worked in medicine, public health, or the government.'
Earlier this month, her brother Jack Schlossberg announced that he is planning to run for Congress in New York, sharing her essay online with the caption, 'Life is short - let it rip.'
The Kennedy family, known for their political legacy and tragic experiences, continues to hold a prominent place in American life.
