The Most Touching Moments from Isabella Strahan's Cancer Journey Vlogs — from Her Symptoms to Her Family's Support

Mar. 15, 2025

Michael Strahan’s daughter Isabella Strahan.Photo:Isabella Strahan/Youtube

Isabella Strahan/Youtube

Michael Strahan’s daughterIsabella Strahanis sharing her cancer journey with the world.At the beginning of the year, the 19-year-old model and college studentrevealed she was diagnosedwith a malignant brain tumor known asmedulloblastomain October 2023. She’s recently started sharing her recovery in a series of YouTube vlogs detailing her symptoms, treatments and outlook as she takes a break from her studies. All proceeds from views of her videos will go to benefit Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center.“It’s been like, two months of keeping it quiet, which is definitely difficult. I don’t wanna hide it anymore ‘cause it’s hard to always keep in,” Isabella said when she announced her diagnosis onGood Morning America, with her dad beside her.“I hope to just kind of be a voice, and be [someone] who maybe [those who] are going through chemotherapy or radiation can look at.“Take a look at some of the most significant moments and milestones from Isabella Strahan’s honest and vulnerablerecovery vlogs.

Michael Strahan’s daughterIsabella Strahanis sharing her cancer journey with the world.

At the beginning of the year, the 19-year-old model and college studentrevealed she was diagnosedwith a malignant brain tumor known asmedulloblastomain October 2023. She’s recently started sharing her recovery in a series of YouTube vlogs detailing her symptoms, treatments and outlook as she takes a break from her studies. All proceeds from views of her videos will go to benefit Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center.

“It’s been like, two months of keeping it quiet, which is definitely difficult. I don’t wanna hide it anymore ‘cause it’s hard to always keep in,” Isabella said when she announced her diagnosis onGood Morning America, with her dad beside her.“I hope to just kind of be a voice, and be [someone] who maybe [those who] are going through chemotherapy or radiation can look at.”

Take a look at some of the most significant moments and milestones from Isabella Strahan’s honest and vulnerablerecovery vlogs.

01of 10When She Revealed ‘I Don’t Really Feel Like Myself’In herfirst video, titled “How It Started,” Isabella reflected on how different her world looks from the year before. She wasenrolled as a college freshmanat the University of Southern California andworking as a model, posing for major companies and campaigns.During herYouTube vlog, which was posted on Jan. 11, Isabella said Sephora recently released an ad she shot in May 2023.“It’s super exciting, but I remember being so excited to go to the store and take a photo, like a selfie, with it and I can’t do that right now because no one knows what I’m going through,” she said, having recorded the YouTube video beforesharing her cancer diagnosiswith the world. She added, “I don’t really feel like myself or that person in the ad, so I don’t want to take a photo with it.”

01of 10

When She Revealed ‘I Don’t Really Feel Like Myself’

In herfirst video, titled “How It Started,” Isabella reflected on how different her world looks from the year before. She wasenrolled as a college freshmanat the University of Southern California andworking as a model, posing for major companies and campaigns.

During herYouTube vlog, which was posted on Jan. 11, Isabella said Sephora recently released an ad she shot in May 2023.

“It’s super exciting, but I remember being so excited to go to the store and take a photo, like a selfie, with it and I can’t do that right now because no one knows what I’m going through,” she said, having recorded the YouTube video beforesharing her cancer diagnosiswith the world. She added, “I don’t really feel like myself or that person in the ad, so I don’t want to take a photo with it.”

02of 10Opening Up About Her First SymptomsIsabella Strahan.ISABELLA STRAHAN/YOUTUBEIsabella also looked back on the first signs of hermedulloblastomain her vlogging debut. It started with vertigo-like symptoms, getting headaches and feeling dizzy to the point where she couldn’t walk in a straight line.An ENT diagnosed her with an inner ear infection, but Isabella recalled how she sensed there was something more, since she was also experiencing nausea and vomiting.As she and her dad toldRobin Robertsin theirGood Morning Americainterview, the college studentsought futher medical attentionwhen she started throwing up blood. After a full MRI at Cedars-Sinai hospital in L.A., doctors found a fast-growing tumor in the back of her brain. Isabella underwent emergency surgery to remove the 4-centimeter tumor.

02of 10

Opening Up About Her First Symptoms

Isabella Strahan.ISABELLA STRAHAN/YOUTUBE

ISABELLA STRAHAN/YOUTUBE

Isabella also looked back on the first signs of hermedulloblastomain her vlogging debut. It started with vertigo-like symptoms, getting headaches and feeling dizzy to the point where she couldn’t walk in a straight line.

An ENT diagnosed her with an inner ear infection, but Isabella recalled how she sensed there was something more, since she was also experiencing nausea and vomiting.

As she and her dad toldRobin Robertsin theirGood Morning Americainterview, the college studentsought futher medical attentionwhen she started throwing up blood. After a full MRI at Cedars-Sinai hospital in L.A., doctors found a fast-growing tumor in the back of her brain. Isabella underwent emergency surgery to remove the 4-centimeter tumor.

03of 10

Getting Support from Family and Friends

Her first vlog featured footage and photos of her loved ones visiting her and celebrating her 19th birthday in the hospital with cake and balloons. She gave shoutouts to her sister, her roommates, her parents and her dad’s girlfriend,Kayla Quick, for their love and support post-surgery.

04of 10Talking About Her New PerspectiveIsabella Strahan.ISABELLA STRAHAN/YOUTUBEAs the video wrapped up, Isabella discussed the insight she gained in the past few months. She said she was focusing less on “the little things” and looking toward what truly matters.“You can really like, learn how to be positive, be nice to people, ‘cause that makes the biggest impact,” the teen said inher vlog.She added a hopeful thought for her viewers: “I just hope anyone who sees this knows that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that things will get better because every day is another day closer to getting better and closer to feeling better,” Isabella said. “Progress takes a lot of time … try to see the positive things.”

04of 10

Talking About Her New Perspective

As the video wrapped up, Isabella discussed the insight she gained in the past few months. She said she was focusing less on “the little things” and looking toward what truly matters.

“You can really like, learn how to be positive, be nice to people, ‘cause that makes the biggest impact,” the teen said inher vlog.

She added a hopeful thought for her viewers: “I just hope anyone who sees this knows that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that things will get better because every day is another day closer to getting better and closer to feeling better,” Isabella said. “Progress takes a lot of time … try to see the positive things.”

05of 10Making the Decision to Freeze Her EggsBecause radiation and chemotherapy can affect fertility, Isabella decided tofreeze her eggs.“That was not fun for me. At all,” she recalled in hersecond vlog, titled “Rehabbing from Brain Surgery.” Quick noted that Isabella hated the hormone shots in particular, which were administered in Isabella’s stomach several times a day leading up to the procedure.The young model underwent her egg retrieval on Thanksgiving Day in Columbus Circle, right near the start of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.“It was like a CIA operation, getting there,” Quick joked, adding that the family had a big Thanksgiving dinner together after the procedure.

05of 10

Making the Decision to Freeze Her Eggs

Because radiation and chemotherapy can affect fertility, Isabella decided tofreeze her eggs.

“That was not fun for me. At all,” she recalled in hersecond vlog, titled “Rehabbing from Brain Surgery.” Quick noted that Isabella hated the hormone shots in particular, which were administered in Isabella’s stomach several times a day leading up to the procedure.

The young model underwent her egg retrieval on Thanksgiving Day in Columbus Circle, right near the start of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

“It was like a CIA operation, getting there,” Quick joked, adding that the family had a big Thanksgiving dinner together after the procedure.

06of 10

Moving Back Home with Her Family in N.Y.C.

While it was difficult to take a break from school, the young model focused on the positives of being at home in her video, which was posted on Jan. 12.

“It’s really nice to have home-cooked meals and just be around the dogs,” Isabella said, adding that she would be posting her favorite meals on her food Instagram account,@NYCParm.

07of 10

Opening Up About Cutting Her Hair

“It’s definitely sad because … I didn’t really cut my hair [before],” Isabella said, adding that her aunt shaved her head in solidarity.

08of 10

Talking About Finishing Her Radiation Treatments

Thethird vlogopened on an exciting note, with Isabella getting ready for herlast day of radiation.

Once she was done, Isabella got to ring the bell to signify her completed treatment in front of her loved ones, who showered her with hugs.

09of 10Her Post-Radiation Treatments Celebratory MealIsabella Strahan.ISABELLA STRAHAN/YOUTUBEThe family’s joy continued after they left the hospital and headed to brunch to dine on Isabella’s favorite: Thai food. In theYouTube video, which she uploaded on Jan. 16, Isabella can be seen digging into a big bowl of Pad Thai.

09of 10

Her Post-Radiation Treatments Celebratory Meal

The family’s joy continued after they left the hospital and headed to brunch to dine on Isabella’s favorite: Thai food. In theYouTube video, which she uploaded on Jan. 16, Isabella can be seen digging into a big bowl of Pad Thai.

10of 10The Post-Radiation Check-InMichael Strahan, Isabella Strahan and Sophia Strahan.Sophia Strahan/InstagramIsabella got real about how she was feeling physically at the end ofher vlog, which she titled “Ringing The Bell to Celebrate Finishing Radiation!” The 19-year-old said she was feeling nauseous and had an ongoing headache, but she also noted how much her symptoms fluctuate over a week.“It’s just waves because you can feel great one day and then horrible the next,” Isabella explained from her bedroom. “It’s frustrating but it is what it is, and you can’t really control how you feel.”

10of 10

The Post-Radiation Check-In

Michael Strahan, Isabella Strahan and Sophia Strahan.Sophia Strahan/Instagram

Sophia Strahan/Instagram

Isabella got real about how she was feeling physically at the end ofher vlog, which she titled “Ringing The Bell to Celebrate Finishing Radiation!” The 19-year-old said she was feeling nauseous and had an ongoing headache, but she also noted how much her symptoms fluctuate over a week.

“It’s just waves because you can feel great one day and then horrible the next,” Isabella explained from her bedroom. “It’s frustrating but it is what it is, and you can’t really control how you feel.”

source: people.com