JFK’s Granddaughter, tatiana Schlossberg, Announces terminal Leukemia Diagnosis
NEW YORK – Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of President John F. Kennedy, has revealed she has been diagnosed with myeloid leukemia, a rare form of cancer typically found in older patients. Teh diagnosis came after a routine postpartum checkup following the birth of her second child in 2024. Schlossberg, 34, detailed her experience in a personal essay published Saturday in The New yorker, titled “A Battle with My blood.”
Schlossberg recounted being physically active, even swimming a mile, shortly before giving birth at Columbia-Presbyterian hospital in New York. Her doctor initially attributed a high white blood cell count to the pregnancy, but further testing revealed the leukemia diagnosis, leading to weeks spent in the hospital.
Doctors repeatedly inquired whether she had spent significant time at Ground Zero following the September 11th attacks, given the prevalence of blood cancers among first responders. Schlossberg was in sixth grade in New York City on 9/11 but did not visit the site untill years later. Her sister, Rose schlossberg, served as a bone marrow donor during her treatment.
The essay also details the impact of political developments on her healthcare. Following Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s endorsement of Donald trump in mid-2024, Trump nominated Kennedy to serve as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Trump later demanded cuts to funding for Columbia University, where Schlossberg’s husband, George Moran, is employed. This created uncertainty for researchers and medical professionals, including Moran, and raised concerns about the stability of the healthcare system on which Schlossberg relies.
On Saturday, Schlossberg’s brother, Jack Schlossberg, who recently announced a bid for Congress, shared a link to her essay on Instagram with the message: “Life is short – let it rip.”
