On Thursday, Isabella Strahan, the 19-year-old daughter of NFL legend and Good Morning America host Michael Strahan, bravely revealed her ongoing battle with brain cancer. In an interview alongside her father, conducted by “Good Morning America” co-host Robin Roberts, Isabella opened up about her struggle with medulloblastoma, a cancerous brain tumor.
The young woman shared that she began experiencing headaches at the onset of her freshman year in college last fall, initially attributing them to vertigo. However, by late October 2023, her symptoms took a more alarming and serious turn.
“I woke up probably at like 1 p.m.,” she said. “I dreaded waking up. But I was throwing up blood. And my sister – I was like, ‘This probably isn’t good.’ So I texted her, who then notified the whole family.”
Her family sought medical attention, and doctors found she had developed a golf ball-size tumor that was growing rapidly in the back of her brain. She received emergency surgery on Oct. 27, the day before her 19th birthday. Following the procedure, she went through a month of rehabilitation, followed by rounds of radiation.
“So I just finished radiation therapy … I got to ring the bell yesterday,” she said. “It was great. It was very exciting because it’s been a long 30 sessions. Six weeks.”
She will undergo chemotherapy at Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center in Durham, North Carolina, next month. This time, she will document her experience in a new YouTube series, with proceeds going to the hospital. Good Morning America
“That’s my next step,” she said. “I’m ready for it to start and be one day closer to being over.”
Michael Strahan, renowned for his 15 seasons with the New York Giants, expressed profound gratitude, dubbing himself the “luckiest man in the world.” His sentiment stems from having an “amazing” daughter, Isabella Strahan, who is currently navigating her battle with brain cancer. Despite the challenges, Strahan remains optimistic, stating, “I know she’s going through it, but I firmly believe that we’re never given more than we can handle, and I am confident that she is going to overcome this.”