SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Good Morning America anchor and former NFL player Michael Strahan shared on Thursday that his teenage daughter has been diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a rare form of brain cancer. Isabella Strahan, a 19-year-old student at the University of Southern California, made the decision to share her story on GMA with Robin Roberts.
Isabella began experiencing severe headaches, nausea, and difficulty walking straight in September. Initially, she believed she had vertigo. However, in late October, she started vomiting blood, and her twin sister Sophia alerted the family. Michael Strahan took Isabella to see a doctor, which led to the discovery of a fast-growing brain tumor larger than a golf ball. Isabella underwent emergency surgery the following day to have the tumor removed.
After completing 30 sessions of radiation, Isabella celebrated by ringing the bell, a tradition for cancer patients finishing their radiation or chemotherapy treatment. She will begin chemotherapy at Duke University in February. Isabella spent a month in rehabilitation, relearning how to walk. Currently, she feels well and maintains a positive attitude.
Isabella has started a YouTube channel to document her journey and raise funds for Duke’s Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center. Although it was challenging to keep her diagnosis quiet for two months, she aims to be a source of inspiration and interest for others undergoing similar treatments.
Michael Strahan emphasizes that this experience has profoundly impacted his perspective on life and the importance of support. Isabella adds that she is grateful for simple things like walking, seeing friends, and engaging in daily activities because the inability to do so has a significant impact. While acknowledging the difficulty of the situation, Michael Strahan believes they will overcome it together, expressing his immense gratitude for his daughter’s presence in his life.
Isabella looks forward to returning to California and continuing her college education once she completes her treatment.