Michael Strahan’s daughter Isabella, 19, has shared footage of the heartfelt moment she underwent her last radiation treatment and broke down in tears – as her dad and mom put their feud aside and reunited to celebrate her brain cancer milestone.
The University of Southern California freshman was diagnosed with medulloblastoma in October after she began suffering from ‘excruciating headaches’ and was waking up vomiting every morning.
After six weeks of treatment, Isabella was able to ‘ring the bell’ – a tradition carried out by cancer patients to mark the end of their chemotherapy or radiation as the GMA host, 52, and her 57-year-old mom, Jean Muggli – who have been rebuilding their fractured relationship after learning of their teen’s diagnosis – cheered her on.
She revealed she was looking forward to ‘healing her head’ while taking viewers through her last radiation treatment that saw both her family and nurses rallying behind her with hugs and applause.
Michael Strahan’s teen daughter Isabella has shared footage of the heartfelt moment she underwent her last radiation treatment and broke down in tears
The 19-year-old University of Southern California freshman was diagnosed with medulloblastoma after suffering ‘excruciating headaches’ (seen with her father)
After six weeks of treatment, Isabella was able to ‘ring the bell’ with the GMA host, 52, and her mom 57-year-old, Jean Muggli, by her side
In the clip, which was posted to her YouTube channel, Isabella sported jeans and a sweater as she revealed that she used to have to wear a ‘metal gown’ while undergoing treatment.
Prior to heading to the hospital, she said: ‘It’s been a long six weeks and I’m very happy to finally heal my head after all of this because the side effects and everything get to you.’
She revealed she would have her whole crew with her to cheer on for the celebratory moment – adding that sister Sophia, Michael, and Jean would all be there.
After arriving at the New York Proton Center in Harlem with her family, she signed in and entered the room for her final round of treatment.
Once she was finished, she walked out and was welcomed with applause from her family and her nurses.
Jean and Michael – who went through an ‘awful divorce’ in 2006 – came together and filmed the tear-jerking moment before hugging their daughter.
Isabella broke down in tears before she admitted she ‘never thought I’d be ringing the bell,’ a tradition that started in 1996 when U.S. Navy rear admiral Irve Le Moyne decided to bring a brass bell to his last treatment, following the Navy tradition of ringing a bell, ‘when the job is done.’
The family celebrated by going out for some Thai food before ending the video with some bedtime thoughts.
She revealed she was looking forward to ‘healing her head’ while taking viewers through her last radiation treatment that saw both her family and nurses celebrating her milestone
The ongoing ordeal has helped the GMA host and his ex-wife, Jean, mend their relationship, according to an insider (the two are seen in 2003)
After arriving at the New York Proton Center in Harlem with her family, she signed in and entered the room for her final round of treatment
‘My head has hurt a lot the past few days, but the thing is, you can really tell how it affects you because Sunday I felt pretty good,’ she said, adding she wasn’t too dizzy and she could ‘walk fine.’
‘Today I feel pretty bad. I’m feeling very nauseous and it’s just waves, ’cause you can feel great one day and horrible the next,’ she said, adding it was ‘frustrating.’
The clip showed just how helpful Isabella’s family, who has been her support system, has been.
Although Michael and Jean went through a nasty legal battle after their divorce, they have now been attempting to mend their relationship for their daughter’s sake.
Just last week, an insider exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com, how, despite the pain, his daughter’s ongoing ordeal has helped to heal his fractured relationship with his ex-wife – with whom he shares Isabella and Sophia.
‘Michael has not had the easiest time dealing with this,’ the source told DailyMail.com.
‘He was a wreck when he first found out just as any parent would be.
‘He has leaned on his close friends including those at GMA and he is doing the best to be strong for her, but it is not easy.’
The insider continued: ‘He has his moments of complete breakdown. Luckily, this type of cancer has a fairly high five-year survival rate. It depends on treatment.
‘He is holding onto hope and has received so much support from his GMA family.’
Isabella broke down in tears before she admitted she ‘never thought I’d be ringing the bell’
The ‘grueling month of rehab’ was followed by several rounds of radiation treatment, before she finally got to ring the bell signifying the end of her treatment
Isabella was diagnosed with medulloblastoma in October after suffering from a bout of ‘excruciating headaches’ during her freshman year in college when she was just 18.
Isabella underwent emergency surgery to remove a 4cm tumor from her brain
Revealing how the devastating news brought the former athlete and his ex-wife together, the insider continued: ‘Despite his awful divorce from his ex-wife Jean, the two of them have come together and put their differences aside to be there for Isabella. This has made Michael more appreciative and grateful.’
Michael married Jean in 1999, but their marriage fell apart after seven years. A nasty legal battle ensued, with Jean filing a domestic violence complaint against Michael – which he denied.
The former couple eventually settled their divorce in 2007.
The source added: ‘Right now they are both taking it one day at a time.’
The insider also shared the impact the teen’s diagnosis has had on him at work.
Addressing, the interview the dad and daughter did with GMA when sharing the news, the source added: ‘The interview was really, really difficult for everyone on staff and there was a lot of crying all around.
‘Robin was a clear choice to do the interview not only because of her closeness to Michael but also because she is a cancer survivor and also a survivor from MDS [myelodysplastic syndromes]. She knows what it is like to face death. She knows what it is like to fight for your life.
Isabella was diagnosed with medulloblastoma in October after suffering from a bout of ‘excruciating headaches’ during her freshman year in college when she was just 18
Michael was a ‘wreck’ when he discovered Isabella’s diagnosis, with an insider revealing to DailyMail.com that he was leaning on support from his GMA family during the ordeal
The college freshman appeared on GMA with her dad last week, with the pair opening up to Robin Roberts about the youngster’s diagnosis
‘It brought back many feelings in Robin that she had bottled up inside. She survived, and she knows she is a miracle and she is praying for the same outcome for Isabella. Ultimately, she knew that she was the one for this and braved it.’
Michael and Isabella revealed the emotional news that she had been diagnosed last week and said that she had to undergo emergency surgery after doctors found a tumor bigger than a golf ball growing at the back of her brain.
The USC freshman appeared on Good Morning America with her dad on Thursday morning, with the pair opening up to Robin Roberts about the youngster’s ‘serious’ diagnosis.
Budding model Isabella smiled as she told Robin: ‘I’m feeling good, not too bad. I’m very excited for this whole process to wrap but you just have to keep living every day through the whole thing.’
While talking about her future, the 19-year-old revealed she was ‘looking forward to going back to college and moving back to California and just [restarting] my whole school experience over.’
The budding model went on to describe some of the side effects she experienced after the surgery, which saw using a walker and a wheelchair to get around in the wake of having the 4cm tumor removed.
The college student said she was also very emotional following the surgery, which she put down to the steroids she was taking, and would ‘bawl’ whenever she met someone new.
According to an insider, the experience has helped her mom and dad, they added: ‘Despite his awful divorce from his ex wife Jean, the two of them have come together and put their differences aside to be there for Isabella’
The teenager had to undergo a month of rehab in the hospital, even having to relearn how to walk in the wake of her surgery
The 19-year-old also had to undergo the egg freezing process, as the radiation and chemotherapy can effect her fertility (the sisters are seen with their dad in 2019)
Isabella also pointed out she’s been in New York recovering from her surgery for longer than she was at college, which was 68 days.
‘I’ll be back,’ she assured viewers. ‘Just taking a pause.’
The 19-year-old also had to undergo the egg freezing process, as the radiation and chemotherapy can effect her fertility.
‘That was not fun for me,’ she admitted. ‘I am not a big needle person so this whole experience… I’ve gotten used to my blood and IVs but shots? That was rough.
‘Basically [it] was three shots in my stomach, hurt so bad, that was every day for maybe a week.’
Speaking through her tears, the teen then shared the inspirational advice that her sister Sophia gave her when she was diagnosed: ‘She said, “You have to keep living just because this is happening….”‘
As his daughter broke down, Michael offered some reassurance, telling her ‘you’ve got this,’ before insisting that he knows she will be here for a long time to come.
‘I know this is tough, but you keep on living, Isabella,’ he told her.
‘You inspire all of us every single day we are around you. And we love you. We are here for you and you got this.
‘[In] 60, 70 years, you’ll be bugging somebody. I don’t know if that will be me, I hope it is but… you’ll be here baby.’
ncG1vNJzZmhqZGy7psPSmqmorZ6Zwamx1qippZxemLyue82erqxnmpa%2FprCMm6minJWcrq%2B%2FjJ6vZq%2BZm7Juv8eapaeZXZyus7DNnqlmoJmnsrR5wpqqnrFdlru1tM6nsKxlnJbEurHRZqCnZZ2qv6Wx0WadqKpdnbazsYycmKydXw%3D%3D