Former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan has faced many difficult opponents throughout his football
career, but none are as difficult as his 19-year-old daughter Isabella is currently battling.
Isabella boldly chose to discuss her battle with a malignant brain tumor known as medulloblastoma on Good
Morning America on January 11, 2024, with her father sitting by her and holding her hand for support.
Isabella, who received her heartbreaking news in late October of her freshman year at USC, initially thought her
regular headaches were caused by vertigo. However, when her condition deteriorated to the point of difficulty
walking and nausea, the adolescent realized something was wrong.
“I awoke, perhaps at 1 p.m. Isabella told GMA’s Robin Roberts, “I dreaded waking up.” “But I was vomiting blood.” I
was like, “Hmm, this is probably not good.” So I texted [my sister, Sophia], who told the entire family.”
Her relatives advised her to get medical help. Following a series of diagnostic testing, the Strahans learned that
Isabella had a rapidly growing tumor in the back of her skull the size of a golf ball.
“I don’t really remember much,” Strahan remarked after learning of Isabella’s illness. “All I remember was trying to
figure out how to get to LA as soon as possible. And it simply doesn’t seem genuine. “It didn’t feel real.”
In October, one day before her 19th birthday, Isabella had emergency surgery to remove the tumor at Cedars-Sinai in
Los Angeles. She has recently received radiation treatment and will soon start chemotherapy.
Isabella stated that she chose to share her issue with the world in order to assist others who may be experiencing a
similar scenario.
“I hope to just kind of be a voice and be [someone] who maybe are going through chemotherapy or radiation can
look at,” she went on to say.
Her bravery has already impressed her father.
“I literally think that in a lot of ways, I’m the luckiest man in the world because I’ve got an amazing daughter,” said
the Hall of Fame defensive end. “I know she’s going through it, but I know that we’re never given more than we can
handle and that she is going to crush this.”
