Michael Strahan’s daughter, Isabella, recently talked openly about her ongoing fight with brain cancer. In a heartfelt video on her YouTube channel called “Vlog 8: Recovering from Chemo at home,” the brave 20-year-old described the intense physical pain she’s going through during her treatment.
Isabella explained how agonizing the pain is, comparing it to a “heart attack.” She talked about trying to ease her headache by using an ice pack on her newly shaved head. She honestly shared, “Everything hurts,” and mentioned how her eyes, mouth, and jaw feel strained.
Isabella bravely shared about the intense pain she’s experiencing. She described her eyes feeling strained and painful when she looks to the sides. She compared the discomfort in her mouth to having all her teeth pulled out without replacements, saying even her jaw and tongue hurt when she drinks water.
Isabella admitted she would rather have radiation or brain surgery than endure chemotherapy because of the extreme pain it causes her. She called this journey the toughest and longest she’s faced, expressing worries about possible complications like heart pain, vision loss, or tooth decay.
Despite these challenges, Isabella is grateful to be home and sleeping in her own bed after being in the hospital. While she felt safe there, she finds comfort in familiar surroundings. Her vlog also showed moments from her hospital stay and special times with her father, Michael Strahan, and her twin sister, Sophia.
Isabella shared this update after she and her father talked about her illness on Good Morning America. She explained how she first noticed headaches and feeling sick, but didn’t worry until she woke up one day throwing up blood. Doctors later found out she had a serious brain tumor called a medulloblastoma. Michael Strahan was away from Good Morning America for more than three weeks because of “personal family matters,” though he didn’t say exactly what was happening.
Even with all these challenges, Isabella is staying strong. She finished her last round of radiation treatment in January after freezing her eggs because of her illness. Our thoughts are with Isabella and her family during this difficult time.
A teenager coughs and requests her father to bring her to the hospital. Within hours, the heartbreaking reality unfolds… Explore the comments for more details.
What does bravery really mean? Is it the bravery to hold on when you know the end is close and the battle you fought so hard is lost, or is it the capacity to face terrifying things?
For a sixteen-year-old girl, bravery meant standing by her father, who never wavered even under the most trying circumstances.
A man by the name of Tom Mitchell told the following tale.
This loving father remembered his daughter complaining that she didn’t feel well and requesting to be taken to the doctor because she thought she had a sinus infection.
Yes, sweetie, I’ll come get you tomorrow after school. If you’d like, we can have supper together afterward,” he replied.
The next day, the two did enjoy dinner together, but it was not at their preferred eatery. Rather, kids were having difficulty swallowing the food at Fairfax Hospital’s pediatric oncology unit. These father and daughter would have more than 450 meals there together, not to mention the hundreds more in the years that followed.
Instead of a sinus infection, his daughter had a massive tumor that had gone to her lungs and collapsed one.
It was a genuine struggle. Even though they knew it wouldn’t be simple, they were committed to fighting as a team.
Hodgkin’s illness, stage four, was Shayla’s diagnosis.
Tom tried to convey to them what it meant to be brave and withstand the trials and problems life placed in front of them by purchasing two sterling silver “feather” bracelets and placing one on each of their wrists.
Then he made three promises: he would stay at the hospital every night until Shayla was cancer-free; he would wear the bracelet until then; and he would persevere as long as she did.
Shayla’s cancer struggle dragged on for years, during which she had blood transfusions, chemotherapy, radiation, painkillers, and more medication. Her body could not take all of this, and as a result, her heart grew weak and a defibrillator had to be quickly implanted within her chest.
Shayla was getting ready for chemotherapy one day when she started screaming, “Help me, Dad! I’m shocked by it! ..I’m shocked by it.
Tom continued his explanation of what had occurred. I drew her in and gave her my strongest embrace. It almost blew her out of my arms and stunned her once more. But I resisted letting go. That’s exactly how I hugged her, fiercely as I could. As swiftly as it had begun, it stopped startling her, and we hurried to the hospital.
As it turned out, the device’s maker had to recall thousands of them because they were malfunctioning, and Shayla’s chest contained one of them.
More chemotherapy sessions, blood transfusions, a botched bone marrow transplant, and more uncomfortable sleepless nights ensued. But until the very last, Shayla never once considered giving up.
“How in the world was I meant to talk to my sweet kid about this? How would I ever have the courage to tell my daughter that she was going to die? There’s a quote I once heard that kind of captures my thoughts. “Can a guy who is terrified still be brave? He can only be bold at that moment. I had to have courage for HER! Of course, I did have that talk with her, and despite how unbelievable it may sound, it ended up being the most incredible, lovely, magical, and fantastic conversation I have ever had in my life. I sincerely pray you never, ever have to have it. Tom gave a portion.
“Dad, am I still brave?,” she murmured in his ear.
Then he met her gaze directly and saw into her soul. He was aware that she was beyond tired of battling and that it was becoming impossible for her, but he suddenly came to a chilling realization. She exhibited bravery for him rather than for herself.
Shayla tragically passed away a few days later, but her father will always remember her bravery and strength.
Shayla, rest in peace.
Kindly TAG your loved ones in this heartwarming tale on Facebook.
Leave a Reply