On November 22, 2025, the Kennedy family was thrust once again into the national spotlight, but this time for a deeply personal and heartbreaking reason. Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of former President John F. Kennedy, revealed in a moving essay for The New Yorker that she has been diagnosed with terminal acute myeloid leukemia. The announcement, timed poignantly on the 62nd anniversary of JFK’s assassination, has rippled through political, medical, and family circles, shedding light on both the human cost of illness and the political controversies that swirl around the Kennedy name.
Schlossberg, 35, is the daughter of Caroline Kennedy—currently the U.S. ambassador to Australia—and Edwin Schlossberg. She shared that the diagnosis came in May 2024, shortly after the birth of her second child with husband George Moran. Initially, a routine checkup revealed a high white blood cell count, a red flag that quickly led to the devastating news: she was suffering from a rare mutation of acute myeloid leukemia, a form of blood cancer most commonly seen in older adults.
"After the birth of my daughter, my doctor noticed my white blood cell count was high. It turned out to be acute myeloid leukemia with a rare mutation, mostly seen in older people," Schlossberg wrote in her essay, as reported by the Associated Press. What followed was a grueling journey through rounds of chemotherapy, two stem cell transplants—first from her sister, then from an unrelated donor—and participation in clinical trials, including the cutting-edge CAR-T-cell therapy.
Despite these aggressive treatments, her prognosis remains grim. During her most recent clinical trial, a doctor gave her a stark estimate: "He could keep me alive for a year, maybe." It’s a reality that Schlossberg faces with both candor and heartbreak, particularly as she contemplates the future of her young children—a three-year-old son, Edwin Jr., and her infant daughter. "I am afraid my children won’t remember me," she wrote, adding, "I feel so cheated and so sad that I don’t get to keep living the wonderful life I had with my husband, George Moran."
Schlossberg’s essay is not just a personal reckoning; it is also a pointed critique of current health policy, specifically those championed by her cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who now serves as Health and Human Services Secretary. She accused him of supporting nearly half a billion dollars in cuts for mRNA vaccine research—technology with potential applications in cancer treatment. "As I spent more and more of my life under the care of doctors, nurses, and researchers striving to improve the lives of others, I watched as Bobby cut nearly a half billion dollars for research into mRNA vaccines, technology that could be used against certain cancers," Schlossberg wrote. Her mother, Caroline Kennedy, has also urged senators to reject his confirmation, underscoring a family rift that mirrors broader national debates about science, healthcare funding, and the role of government in medical research.
The public response to Schlossberg’s revelation has been swift and supportive, especially from within her own family. Her younger brother, Jack Schlossberg, a 32-year-old congressional candidate, took to Instagram on November 22 to repost excerpts from her essay and offer a simple, heartfelt message: "Life is short—let it rip." He also shared photos of a concrete road and a blue sky, perhaps a quiet nod to the journey ahead and the hope that persists even in the face of tragedy.
Jack’s public show of support is just one example of how the Kennedy family, so often in the public eye for its triumphs and tragedies, has rallied around Tatiana. In her essay, she paid tribute to the unwavering presence of her parents and siblings: "My parents and my brother and sister, too, have been raising my children and sitting in my various hospital rooms almost every day for the last year and a half. They have held my hand unflinchingly while I have suffered, trying not to show their pain and sadness in order to protect me from it. This has been a great gift, even though I feel their pain every day."
Her husband, George Moran, has also been a pillar of strength. Tatiana wrote with affection and a touch of humor, "I know that not everyone can be married to a doctor, but, if you can, it’s a very good idea. He is perfect, and I feel so cheated and so sad that I don’t get to keep living the wonderful life I had with this kind, funny, handsome genius I managed to find." For now, she says, her focus is on spending as much time as possible with her children, acknowledging, "Mostly, I try to live and be with them now. But being in the present is harder than it sounds, so I let the memories come and go."
Medical experts have weighed in on the diagnosis, offering both context and compassion. CBS News medical contributor Dr. Celine Gounder discussed Schlossberg’s case, explaining that acute myeloid leukemia is an aggressive and rare form of cancer, particularly in someone so young. Treatments like chemotherapy, stem cell transplants, and CAR-T-cell therapy represent the forefront of medical science, but even these advanced interventions have not been enough to change the course of Tatiana’s illness.
The Kennedy family’s history is marked by both extraordinary achievement and profound loss. From the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 to the untimely deaths of several other family members, their story is woven deeply into the fabric of American history. Tatiana’s diagnosis is another chapter in this ongoing saga—a reminder of both the fragility of life and the enduring bonds of family.
Yet, amid the sorrow, there is also a sense of gratitude and perspective. Schlossberg reflects on her upbringing and the burden of her illness on her loved ones: "For my whole life, I have tried to be good, to be a good student and a good sister and a good daughter, and to protect my mother and never make her upset or angry. 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." It’s a sentiment that resonates with anyone who has faced illness or loss—a mixture of regret, helplessness, and love.
As the Kennedy family confronts this latest challenge, the nation watches with empathy and respect. The story of Tatiana Schlossberg is not just a tale of illness, but of resilience, family, and the complicated intersection of personal tragedy and public life. Her courage in sharing her journey, her willingness to speak out about policy, and the love that surrounds her offer a powerful testament to the human spirit, even in the darkest of times.
