On Thursday’s Good Morning America show, Michael Strahan, the anchor and former NFL player, shared that his teenage daughter has recently been diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a rare form of brain cancer.
During the show, Strahan expressed his pride in his daughter’s strength and resilience. Despite the personal nature of the situation, Isabella Strahan, a 19-year-old student at the University of Southern California, chose to share her own story with GMA’s Robin Roberts.
Isabella began experiencing severe headaches, nausea, and difficulty walking in September. Initially attributing it to vertigo, her condition worsened in late October when she started vomiting blood. She informed her twin sister Sophia, who alerted the family, leading Michael Strahan to take her to the doctor.
Isabella’s MRI revealed a rapidly growing, four-centimeter brain tumor, larger than a golf ball. She underwent emergency surgery the next day, and after completing 30 sessions of radiation, she recently celebrated ringing the bell—a tradition for cancer patients completing their radiation or chemotherapy. Isabella will start chemotherapy at Duke University in February.
Following a month of rehabilitation, during which she had to relearn walking, Isabella now reports feeling well. She has launched a YouTube channel to document her journey through vlogs, with proceeds supporting Duke’s Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center.
Isabella emphasized the challenging two-month period of keeping her diagnosis quiet and expressed her desire to be a voice for those undergoing chemotherapy or radiation.
Michael Strahan acknowledged that this experience has altered his perspective on life, underscoring the significance of support. Isabella shared her gratitude for the ability to walk and engage in everyday activities, highlighting the profound impact of limitations. Michael Strahan concluded by expressing his belief in Isabella’s ability to overcome the challenge, emphasizing his immense gratitude for having her in his life.