Michael Strahan opens up on his ‘nightmare’ watching daughter Isabella battle cancer at age 19

Michael Strahan opens up on his 'nightmare' watching daughter Isabella battle cancer at age 19

Michael Strahan has described his daughter’s cancer diagnosis as ‘every parent’s worst nightmare’ as he discussed her recovery from the disease.

Isabella Strahan was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in October 2023 when she was just 19 years old, before being declared cancer-free the following summer.

And while the college student and daughter of the former Giants star is now working her way back, Good Morning America co-anchor Strahan opened up about the ordeal in a new ABC special.  

‘As a parent, you’re scared,’ he said in ‘Life Interrupted’ a new special documenting Isabella’s cancer journey, which was previewed in part on GMA on Thursday. ‘Oh my, you’re just scared.’ 

‘It never occurred to us that it would be cancer, I’ll be honest with you, just looking at the trajectory at that point of her life — and we have no history of anything bad in the family,’ he added. 

Isabella was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a malignant brain tumor that develops in the cerebellum after initially struggling to walk in a straight line.

Michael Strahan pictured with daughter Isabella in October 2023, just days before she was told she had a brain tumor

Michael Strahan pictured with daughter Isabella in October 2023, just days before she was told she had a brain tumor 

Isabella, seen with her sister Sophia, underwent rounds of chemotherapy and surgery

Isabella, seen with her sister Sophia, underwent rounds of chemotherapy and surgery

According to GMA, she believed she had vertigo, before becoming nauseous one day and later throwing up blood.

She eventually went to the emergency room where it was determined she had cancer, and she was promptly operated on to try and remove the tumor.

Isabella then underwent rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, as well as needing two follow-up surgeries after getting an infection from the initial operation.

‘She wasn’t eating much. She was thin and tired and bald and all the things you hate to see your kid go through,’ Strahan told People earlier this month. ‘I don’t know how she did it.

‘I was struggling myself with it. I always say that she is a lot stronger than I am.

‘Her spirit was there. One of the things she said, probably the hardest thing I had to hear was, ‘Dad I’ll do whatever. I want to live.’ I normally cry when I tell people that but I am trying to hold it together for you.’

Isabella is now cancer-free, though she still undergoes medical monitoring by doctors

Isabella is now cancer-free, though she still undergoes medical monitoring by doctors

Isabella documented her battle and recovery from cancer across her YouTube channel

Isabella documented her battle and recovery from cancer across her YouTube channel 

Isabella was seen over the holidays vacationing in the Caribbean with her sister Sophia and shared pictures on social media celebrating her return to health from the Bahamas.

‘And we’re back…’ Isabella poignantly captioned the images on social media in late December.

‘My first round of chemo experience was one of the worst things I’ve done ever in my entire life,’ she also said on her YouTube channel. ‘It just felt weird getting chemo. I don’t know, you don’t really think you’re gonna get poison put through your body.’

While Isabella is now cancer-free, Strahan admitted that he has still has a sense of nervousness regarding his daughter, who is being monitored by doctors. 

‘There will not be a time where she’s getting a scan where I won’t be on pins and needles,’ he said.  ‘I don’t care if it’s 10 years, 20 years, 30 years from now, you’ll always be nervous. And I could tell she feels it too.’

Related Posts

NFL star Deebo Samuel left fuming after interviewer spills secret live on air in painful exchange

NFL star Deebo Samuel left fuming after interviewer spills secret live on air in painful exchange

Commanders star Deebo Samuel was left shaking his head in disbelief after NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo accidentally revealed the wide receiver is battling a hand injury –…

Travis Kelce parties with rival NFL quarterback in new picture from his offseason

Travis Kelce parties with rival NFL quarterback in new picture from his offseason

They are about to resume their NFL rivalry but away from the field, Travis Kelce and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield have a budding friendship. Kansas…

Chiefs star breaks silence on impending jail sentence after causing crash on Dallas highway

Chiefs star breaks silence on impending jail sentence after causing crash on Dallas highway

Kansas City Chiefs star Rashee Rice insists he’s ‘completely changed’ since his hit-and-run crash on a Dallas highway that was captured in a viral video last year….

Jerry Jones risks more outrage from Cowboys stars after brutal take on Micah Parsons’ trade request

Jerry Jones risks more outrage from Cowboys stars after brutal take on Micah Parsons’ trade request

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has delivered a brutal verdict on Micah Parsons’ decision to submit an official trade request.  The Cowboys’ top defensive star, 26, had…

Kelce family in mourning as Ed Kelce’s partner dies

Kelce family in mourning as Ed Kelce’s partner dies

Ed Kelce, the father of Travis and Jason, has announced the death of his partner, Maureen Maguire.  Kelce shared an obituary on his Facebook page on Saturday…

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel sends warning to Tua Tagovailoa after Donald Trump called out NFL quarterback

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel sends warning to Tua Tagovailoa after Donald Trump called out NFL quarterback

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel joked that Tua Tagovailoa has been given an ‘executive order’ to avoid getting hurt after Donald Trump told the quarterback he ‘has…