Tatiana Kennedy Schlossberg, the 35-year-old daughter of Caroline Kennedy and granddaughter of President John F. Kennedy, has brought a new wave of public attention and empathy to the storied Kennedy family. In a moving and candid essay published in The New Yorker, Tatiana Kennedy Schlossberg revealed she is battling a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer—acute myeloid leukemia with a specific rare mutation called Inversion 3—discovered in May 2024 shortly after the birth of her second child.
An Unexpected Diagnosis and a Fight for Life
Schlossberg described the shock that came with her diagnosis. Previously in good health, she recounted how, after giving birth, doctors spotted an abnormal white blood cell count. “I did not — could not — believe that they were talking about me. I swam a mile in the pool the previous day, being nine months pregnant.
I was not ill. I did not feel unwell. In fact, I considered myself to be one of the healthiest individuals I know,” she stated in her essay. The diagnosis led to immediate and intensive treatment, including multiple rounds of chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant from her sister Rose Schlossberg, and involvement in two clinical trials focused on advanced immunotherapy.
Despite periods of remission, Tatiana Kennedy Schlossberg relapsed and underwent further treatments, including a second transplant. She openly shared how her brother Jack—now running for Congress—desperately wanted to be a donor, and how her husband, George Moran, himself a doctor, supported her through months of hospital stays, sleeping on the hospital floor and managing daunting medical demands. The couple has two young children, and Schlossberg’s parents and siblings have played an integral role in caring for both her and her kids throughout her prolonged ordeal.
The Weight of a Tragic Legacy
Tatiana Kennedy Schlossberg’s essay reflects on the Kennedy family’s history of tragedy—from the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, to the fatal plane crash that claimed her uncle, John F. Kennedy Jr., in 1999. Schlossberg expresses deep concern for her mother, Caroline Kennedy, recognizing that her own illness brings a new chapter of loss and grief to a family already shaped by public heartbreak. “Throughout my entire life, I have endeavored to be virtuous, to excel as a student, to be a supportive sister and daughter, and to shield my mother from distress or anger… now I have introduced a new tragedy into her life, into our family’s existence, and there is nothing I can do to prevent it,” she wrote.
Critique of Policy and Healthcare Realities
As an environmental journalist and former science writer for The New York Times, Schlossberg addressed policy concerns in her essay, criticizing her cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., for public health decisions—especially those that reduced funding for vaccines and cancer research. She highlighted her fears about living immunocompromised, and the direct impact budget cuts can have on families desperately relying on advanced medical treatments.
Living in the Moment
Despite these challenges, Tatiana Kennedy Schlossberg’s essay is also filled with fierce love for her children and the determination to create meaningful memories in the time she has left. She attempted to be “the perfect patient” and found solace in small joys and the support of family. Schlossberg wrote about the bittersweet nature of making memories with her children, knowing that the memories might fade with her passing.
A Testament of Resilience
Tatiana Kennedy Schlossberg’s story is a testament to resilience amid overwhelming odds and a poignant reminder that even those born into America’s most famous families face private battles shaped by love, fear, and loss. Her candid words shed new light on the personal struggles behind a public legacy, inviting readers to recognize the humanity in every chapter of the Kennedy story.