Known for his on-camera charm and charisma, former NFL player Michael Strahan’s absence from TV was noticed, and now we know why he took leave
Michael Strahan, the former New York Giants player turned cable TV personality, has been noticeably absent from his usual TV stints. Now he’s finally revealed the harsh news as to why he had to pull away from his professional responsibilities — his daughter’s fight with brain cancer.
The Good Morning America and FOX NFL Sunday regular revealed that his 19-year-old daughter was recently diagnosed with brain cancer, according to Outkick.com.
“I literally think that in a lot of ways, I’m the luckiest man in the world because I’ve got an amazing daughter… 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,” Strahan revealed on Good Morning America this week.
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Known as medulloblastoma, this form of brain cancer according to the Mayo Clinic:
Medulloblastoma (muh-dul-o-blas-TOE-muh) is a cancerous brain tumor that starts in the lower back part of the brain. This part of the brain is called the cerebellum. It is involved in muscle coordination, balance and movement.
Medulloblastoma begins as a growth of cells, which is called a tumor. The cells grow quickly and can spread to other parts of the brain. Medulloblastoma cells tend to spread through the fluid that surrounds and protects your brain and spinal cord. This is called cerebrospinal fluid. Medulloblastomas don’t usually spread to other parts of the body.
“I woke up, probably at like, 1 p.m. I dreaded waking up. But I was throwing up blood,” Isabella said of how she felt leading up to the eventual MRI diagnosis. “I was like, ‘Hmm, this probably isn’t good.’ So I texted [my sister], who then notified the whole family.”
Doctors swiftly identified and removed a four-centimeter tumor from the back of Isabella Strahan’s head, prohibiting her father from taking her on a flight back to the East Coast due to the risks associated with air travel. Following her surgery in late October, Isabella faced a challenging recovery period, relearning to walk and regaining motor skills while continuing post-radiation treatments.
During this time, her father took a break from his roles on Good Morning America” and “NFL on FOX” to assist in her recuperation. Recently, Isabella reached a significant milestone in her journey, having completed over six weeks of cancer treatment, symbolized by her ringing the cancer bell.
“The doctor did an EKG for my heart and like, other stuff, but she didn’t have an MRI machine, so I went to [get an MRI] somewhere else. And then she calls me and she’s like, ‘You need to head to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center right now. I’m gonna meet you there,'” said Strahan.
“I don’t really remember much,” he continued. “I just remember trying to figure out how to get to LA ASAP. And it just doesn’t feel real. It just didn’t feel real.”
“You learn that you’re probably not as strong as you thought you were when you have to really think about the real things, and I realized that I need support from everybody,” remarked Strahan.
“You think that I’m the athlete, the tough guy, you know, I can come and handle, I’m the father in the family. It is not about any of that. It doesn’t matter. And it’s really made me change my perspective on so many things in my life.”
