Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of former President John F. Kennedy, recently revealed in an essay for The New Yorker that she is suffering from terminal cancer. The environmental journalist, diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia earlier this year, reflects on her condition and its implications.
At 34, Schlossberg's diagnosis came shortly after the birth of her second child, when a routine doctor visit showed elevated white blood cell counts. After undergoing chemotherapy and stem cell transplants, she learned from her doctor that her prognosis might allow her to live for only one more year.
This revelation comes on the 62nd anniversary of her grandfather's assassination, adding a poignant dimension to her story. In her heartfelt essay, Schlossberg discusses her fears regarding her children’s memories of her and the joy she feels being a mother. Yet, she expresses deep sadness about the life she is being forced to leave behind.
Furthermore, Schlossberg criticized health policies advocated by her cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr., particularly his cuts to funding for mRNA vaccine research, which she emphasizes can benefit cancer patients. Her mother, Caroline Kennedy, has urged senators to block RFK Jr.'s confirmation for Health and Human Services Secretary, citing concerns about the implications for cancer research.
'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,' wrote Schlossberg.
Her emotional reflections resonate with many as she candidly shares her journey through this challenging chapter of her life while also addressing systemic issues in healthcare policies.
