Michael Strahan faced one of the most painful and difficult challenges a father could endure when his then-18-year-old daughter, Isabella Strahan, was diagnosed with cancer. Still, he put up a strong front and stayed by her side, taking a break from his post on “Good Morning America.”

In October 2023, Michael Strahan took a leave of from hosting “Good Morning America” and claimed he had to tend to personal family issues. Recently, the public learned that Michael spent those days by his daughter, Isabella Strahan’s side, as she underwent the first weeks of her cancer battle.

Then, at 18 years old, Isabella was diagnosed with a brain tumor after experiencing excruciating headaches, nausea, and vomiting. She underwent an emergency surgery to remove the malignant mass behind her brain a day before turning 19 on October 27, 2023.

Although she kept the initial months of her battle a secret, Isabella documented her and later shared it on social media. Some of her shares included pictures in the hospital, with Michael by her bedside.

Her twin sister, Sophia, was also a source of support during those weeks when she recuperated from the surgery, relearned how to walk, and underwent radiation therapy.

Since decided to share her journey publicly in a sit-down interview with “Good Morning America,” her father also shared his thoughts and feelings while watching his daughter fight a life-threatening disease. Michael, who learned of the diagnosis before his daughter, admitted that the situation did not feel real at that time.

His first thought was how to get to his daughter, a California student, as fast as possible. “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,” he .

As an athlete, Michael is tough and ready to handle whatever is thrown at him. However, everything changes when he is no longer on the field and is at home as a father. “The hardest thing to get over is to think that she has to go through this herself,” he .

Isabella’s disease, medically called Medulloblastoma, is a tumor more common among young children. Those in their late teen years rarely get the diagnosis. Nevertheless, Isabella shows bravery and strength as she faces the most brutal battle. She will begin her chemotherapy sessions in February.