Michael Strahan’s daughter Isabella, 19, joyfully returns to college after being declared cancer-free

Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella, 19, joyfully returns to college after being declared cancer-free

As I delve into Isabella’s harrowing yet inspiring journey, I am left in awe of her resilience and courage. Her story is a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the unyielding power of the human spirit.


Michael Strahan’s daughter, Isabella, is happily back at school following a temporary absence due to her courageous fight against cancer.

Overcoming numerous operations and prolonged painful therapies that included chemotherapy, a 19-year-old bravely battled against a relatively uncommon type of brain tumor.

Last month, she was able to triumphantly announce on her YouTube channel that she was ‘cancer-free’ after undergoing her final MRI.

As a diehard fan who’s followed her career since her days at USC, it was a thrill to learn that my idol, Lopez, has moved back to her alma mater this week. It brought back memories of watching her shine on the basketball court and dreaming of one day walking those same halls. I can only imagine the excitement she must be feeling, reconnecting with old friends and creating new memories in the place that kickstarted her journey to stardom. I’m counting down the days until I can catch a glimpse of her on campus!

Isabella announced her return to USC by enthusiastically sharing a selfie with Jean on her Instagram Stories, captioned ‘I’m back at USC’, using the university’s red and gold colors.

Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella, 19, joyfully returns to college after being declared cancer-free

She beamed radiantly at the camera, appearing vibrant and healthy as she was about to resume her studies from where she had previously paused.

Her post came less than a month after she revealed she was finally cancer-free, waving goodbye to frequent hospital visits.

As a lifestyle expert, I find myself reflecting on the journey of a remarkable young woman. It was during her freshman year in college that she received the life-altering news – a diagnosis of medulloblastoma, following the discovery of a tumor larger than a golf ball nestled at the back of her brain. This uninvited intruder brought with it a relentless barrage of excruciating headaches and bouts of vomiting.

On her YouTube channel, Isabella has been chronicling her journey with cancer. Recently, she announced that she had undergone another significant operation, following the ringing of the bell to signify the completion of her chemotherapy sessions.

Later on, she decided to post another update on YouTube, happily announcing that she was now cancer-free following her final MRI scan.

52-year-old GMA host’s daughter expressed that everything was going well prior to expressing her eagerness to return to her routine life and get ready for college again.

At the beginning of the video, the teen opened up about the excruciating pain she was in after having her chemo port removed earlier. 

She expressed that her side is extremely painful, almost as if she’d been wounded by a knife. Initially, she downplayed the discomfort, saying something like “It doesn’t hurt too badly.” However, she suspects it might be due to the medication wearing off…she can hardly maintain an upright position.

Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella, 19, joyfully returns to college after being declared cancer-free
Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella, 19, joyfully returns to college after being declared cancer-free

“Additionally, it seemed as though the tube was penetrating my heart since my heart began to ache. I’m unsure if this is normal, but it certainly wasn’t pleasant. Let me put it another way: It was far from a pleasant experience.”

Later on, she disclosed that she was scheduled to undergo an MRI scan which would show if she was still fighting the illness.

Prior to going for her MRI, Isabella along with her mother stopped by Waffle House first, a place that Isabella, who is 19, calls a tradition whenever they go for doctor visits.

In her vlog, Isabella mentioned that she was on her way for an MRI appointment. Later, she explained that after the MRI test, she had a scheduled consultation with her doctor.

Once she arrived to the hospital, doctors put another IV into her arm. 

Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella, 19, joyfully returns to college after being declared cancer-free
Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella, 19, joyfully returns to college after being declared cancer-free
Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella, 19, joyfully returns to college after being declared cancer-free

‘They put another one in and I could cry,’ she said as she showed the camera her bandaged arm.

After receiving the results from her MRI, Isabella and her mother, Jean Muggli, decided to go shopping at Whole Foods for some fresh fruit instead.

“Hi there, wrapping up our vlog for today. Tomorrow, we’ll gather for a discussion about the scans, and that will be all,” she explained.

Next, we transitioned to a scene from her previous medical check-up, followed by footage of her in a car, having just left the college.

‘It was a great, great scan, everything was clear. Cancer-free and everything is great. I don’t have another doctor’s appointment until October,’ she said. 

Isabella admitted that she was sad she wouldn’t be seeing her doctors for a while.  

She added: ‘I miss my doctors already and everyone who’s helped me because they’re all so nice. 

Today, I’m quite sad because I won’t be returning for some time since I care for them so deeply. Therefore, this is probably the final hospital video update I’ll share until October.

Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella, 19, joyfully returns to college after being declared cancer-free
Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella, 19, joyfully returns to college after being declared cancer-free

Isabella promised her followers that they’d be seeing her again, and hinted at sharing her college move-in experience with them as well.

Last month she underwent another surgery amid her brain cancer battle – one month after she revealed that she had finished her treatment. 

In a video titled “Road to Recovery,” she shared that she would be returning to the hospital for a fresh treatment, which she was genuinely thrilled about.

A few short weeks following her final chemotherapy session, as signaled by the ringing of the bell, Isabella achieved yet another significant accomplishment: the removal of her chemo port. She meticulously chronicled this event.

Later on, Isabella was spotted entering the hospital and inspecting a themed room, modeled after the Disney-Pixar movie Inside Out; she was in the company of her mother at that time.

I was led into the operating room, where a crowd of healthcare professionals stood along the corridors, their encouraging voices echoing as they rooted for me.

Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella, 19, joyfully returns to college after being declared cancer-free
Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella, 19, joyfully returns to college after being declared cancer-free
Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella, 19, joyfully returns to college after being declared cancer-free

She grinned from ear to ear as she raised her arms up and did a little dance.

It then cut to Isabella laying in bed after the surgery was finished.

She ran her fingers along the place where the tube once sat on her neck, marveling, “It seems unreal to touch this spot now and find nothing substantial there.”

And while she admitted that she was in some slight pain, she was still in high spirits.

Previously, Isabella has shared details regarding some distressing side effects she experienced due to her chemotherapy treatments.

At the time, she said ‘everything’ hurt and it felt like she was ‘having a heart attack.’

She said, “My eyes feel tired and it’s uncomfortable when I try to look to the sides. It’s as if my entire mouth has undergone a single, extensive dental procedure.”

Each tooth was removed without being replaced surgically, causing discomfort in my jaw and the base of my tongue. Drinking water also causes pain.

In January, Isabella shared on GMA that she had been experiencing extremely painful headaches during her first year at college.

She mentioned that it appeared something wasn’t right from around September. Specifically, on October 1st, she started experiencing persistent headaches, nausea, and difficulty walking properly.

At first, Isabella thought her symptoms were similar to vertigo. However, when Michael’s daughter described her symptoms, he didn’t initially suspect they could be signs of cancer due to her young age, strength, and apparent good health.

On October 25th, I was utterly devastated when Isabella shared that her health had taken a drastic turn for the worse. She confided in us that she started vomiting blood not long after rising from bed.

Isabella confided that she jokingly felt it wasn’t a good situation, so she shared it with her sister. This, in turn, led to the entire family being informed about the matter.

Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella, 19, joyfully returns to college after being declared cancer-free
Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella, 19, joyfully returns to college after being declared cancer-free

At that moment, Michael mentioned that it seemed best for Isabella to have a comprehensive medical examination by a doctor. He also expressed his gratitude towards the doctor, saying “I can’t help but feel that the doctor might have just saved her life.”

Isabella mentioned that the doctor performed an EKG, along with some additional tests, and then arranged for her to be transferred to a different medical center where she would receive an MRI examination.

The teenager remembered saying, ‘I went to get the MRI scans somewhere else, and then she called me, telling me to rush to Cedars-Sinai immediately. She said she would meet me there, and she didn’t provide any details about my condition at that moment.’

Upon arriving at the hospital, Isabella learned that she had a rapidly expanding four-centimeter tumor located at the back of her brain, which necessitated immediate surgical intervention.

As shared by Michael, he found out about his daughter’s brain tumor ahead of time, with him stating that he has few recollections of the exact instant when he received the diagnosis. However, he vividly remembers attempting to find a swift way to reach Los Angeles as soon as possible.

After thorough examination, it was determined that Isabella has medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor that affects around 20% of all pediatric cases and usually affects approximately 500 children annually, with the majority being children aged between five and nine.

Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella, 19, joyfully returns to college after being declared cancer-free
Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella, 19, joyfully returns to college after being declared cancer-free
Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella, 19, joyfully returns to college after being declared cancer-free

On October 27, just a day prior to her 19th birthday, Isabella had an urgent operation to extract a tumor. Michael mentioned that the doctors were eager to remove it immediately.

In his recollection, during their discussion, the doctors emphasized the severity of the situation by stating, “It would be unwise to attempt flying her to the East Coast or another physician. We have identified the problem and it needs to be addressed immediately.”

Fortunately, doctors assured Isabella’s family that while her cancer was severe, they were optimistic about their ability to manage it effectively.

After her operation, the teenager encountered a challenging recovery process that felt like climbing a steep hill, lasting approximately a month. This period involved relearning how to walk again.

After my surgery, I embarked on multiple sessions of proton radiation therapy, which I successfully finished the very day prior to disclosing my diagnosis to the public.

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2024-08-21 18:43

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