F irst, Isabella Strahan realized she couldn't walk in a straight line. On a hike, her friends asked if she was about to fall off the mountain. A doctor thought she had an ear infection. Then she threw up blood.
Last October Isabella, daughter of Michael Strahan Good Morning America anchor, Fox NFL Sunday presenter, and Hall of Fame defensive end for the New York Giants-was just a few weeks into her freshman year at USC when she was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma, a type of malignant tumor, in her cerebellum.
Three surgeries followed, along with six weeks of radiation and four rounds of chemotherapy, a journey Isabella charted in a raw, honest, funny, informative, and moving series of videos on her YouTube channel. As her followers have seen, Isabella has had to relearn how to walk and talk, and her recovery is ongoing.
Now officially cancer-free, she has shared with her social media followers a picture of a handwritten note that reads, "Believe that things will get better. No matter what, keep going! F--k cancer!" On August 20 a selfie taken with her mom Jean Muggli was captioned "Back at USC" A video showed her dancing in her new apartment.
"I get to start my freshman year again, and I hope I'm there for longer than 50 days this time," Isabella says, as she sits beside Michael after their T&C photo shoot. The soft-spoken Isabella is "really excited" to return to studying journalism and communications (she has received course credits for her videos), as well as making friends and enjoying college life.
"I can't wait for her to be back at college and live, to get back to what she was doing before and have fun, sororities, football games," Michael says. Then, in a very Dad voice, he adds, "And most of all go to class and get great grades." Both father and daughter laugh. They are sweetly close, joshing
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
For Your Eyes Only
A small wedding has many charms. Here's the proof
Anatomy of a Classic
Ballet flats have been around since medieval times. They still know how to have fun.
It's the Capital Gains Tax, Stupid
In the battle for billionaire political donations, the presidential election finally turned Silicon Valley into Wall Street without the monocle.
I'll Have What She's Wearing
Refined neutrals, face-framing turtlenecks, a white coat that says: I've got 30 more. Twenty-five years on, Rene Russo's Thomas Crown Affair wardrobe remains the blueprint for grown-up glamour.
Isn't That RICH?
If fragrance is invisible jewelry, how do you smell as if you're wearing diamonds, not cubic zirconia?
THE MACKENZIE EFFECT
A $36 billion fortune made MacKenzie Scott one of the richest women in the world. How shes giving it away makes her fascinating.
Her Roman Empire
Seventeen floors up, across from the Vegas behemoth that bears her name, Elaine Wynn is charting a major cultural future for America's casino capital, and she's doing it from a Michael Smith-designed oasis in the middle of the neon desert.
Are You There, God? I'm at Harvard
Why on earth are a bunch of successful midcareer professionals quitting their jobs and applying to Harvard Divinity School? Hint: It has nothing to do with heaven.
Bryan Stevenson
He has dedicated his life to defending the unfairly incarcerated and condemned. But his vision for racial justice has always been about more than winning in court.
Emma Heming Willis
Once best known as a model and entrepreneur, today shes an advocate for patients and caretakers dealing with an incurable disease—one that hits very close to home. Here, she speaks with Katie Couric about her mission.
