Tatiana Schlossberg, aged 35 and the daughter of Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg, disclosed her terminal cancer diagnosis in an essay published by The New Yorker on November 22, 2025, coinciding with the 62nd anniversary of her grandfather John F. Kennedy's assassination. She was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in May 2024, shortly after giving birth to her second child.

In her essay, Schlossberg described how doctors identified an abnormality in her white blood cell count, which was significantly elevated at 131,000 cells per microliter, compared to the normal range of 4,000 to 11,000. Initially, her doctor suggested that the abnormality could be related to her recent pregnancy or indicative of leukemia, which was later confirmed as a rare mutation known as Inversion 3, occurring in less than 2% of AML cases.

Schlossberg outlined her treatment plan, which included several months of chemotherapy aimed at reducing the number of blast cells in her bone marrow, followed by two bone marrow transplants and participation in clinical trials, including CAR-T-cell therapy. She faced complications from a form of the Epstein-Barr virus that severely affected her kidneys, necessitating her to relearn how to walk. Despite her previous good health and active lifestyle, she expressed disbelief at her diagnosis.

The emotional impact of her illness extends to her family, including her husband George Moran and their two young children. Schlossberg spent five weeks at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital after her daughter's birth before being transferred to Memorial Sloan Kettering for her transplant and undergoing at-home chemotherapy. She reflected on her family's history of tragedy, often referred to as the 'Kennedy curse,' which includes the assassinations of her grandfather John F. Kennedy and her uncle Robert F. Kennedy. This legacy of loss adds a profound layer to her current health crisis, highlighting the broader implications of health challenges on families.

Additionally, Schlossberg raised concerns about the stability of the healthcare system, particularly in light of previous actions by the Trump administration that stripped Columbia University of federal funding, which raised uncertainties about her care at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. The university later negotiated a deal to restore this funding. Throughout her illness, she emphasized the importance of family support, as her siblings helped care for her children while managing their own emotional responses to her condition.