“I Don’t Want to Die”: Michael Strahan Breaks Down in Tears as Daughter Shares Difficult Battle with Cancer

Back in June last year, NFL legend Michael Strahan’s daughter Isabella rang the bell as she marked the end of her cancer treatment. In a YouTube vlog Isabella told viewers how excited she is to “finally be done” with radiation. 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.”

Nurses and family members surrounded Isabella after she was done with treatment. She cried and hugged her twin sister Sophia and father. In a clip with her mother and sister, she said: “So excited to ring that bell. I never thought I’d be ringing the bell.” She rang the bells back and forth with tears rolling down her face. After radiation, the family also treated Isabella to Bua Thai in the Upper East Side, where she rated her pad Thai “really yummy” and was seen all smiles. As satisfying as it may seem, the journey has been life-altering for the family. And it is probably the parents of Isabella who were touched most, watching their daughter battling near death.

Being on the topmost echelon of the NFL, Michael Strahan’s life is nothing short of a high-stakes game of big hits, unforgettable moments, and a whole lot of ups and downs. But nothing could prepare him for the most personal and terrifying season of his life: Isabella’s battle with cancer. The journey has now been documented in Life Interrupted: Isabella Strahan’s Fight Against Cancer. Recently, in Good Morning America’s premiere of the trailer of the primetime special, the proud father turned emotional as he called Isabella a “survivor, and a thriver.”

After the trailer, co-host Robin Roberts, who is in remission from breast cancer after her 2007 diagnosis, reached out to Strahan, supportively squeezing his arm. “That was a rough start. It got happier at the end for me, but it’s hard to relive it,” Strahan, 53, said after the debut of the trailer on the January 29 episode of GMA.

“You don’t really think the worst until you told the worst,” a tearful Isabella said in the trailer. Now 20, she was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, and on October 28, 2023, her 19th birthday, she underwent emergency surgery to remove a golf-ball-sized brain tumor at the base of her skull. What followed was six weeks of radiation, four rounds of chemotherapy, and three brain surgeries. Now cancer-free, Isabella is back at college at the University of Southern California.

“The first thing that went through my mind was this must be a mistake. It didn’t seem real,” Michael recalled in the trailer, sounding every bit like a father trying to process the unthinkable. For Strahan, a seven-time Pro Bowler and all-around NFL beast, this was no ordinary challenge. The battle wasn’t on a football field but in a hospital room, and no amount of physical strength could protect his daughter from the fight of her life. As Michael says in the trailer, “Oh my. You’re just scared.” when something like this happens you truly are.

The fierce 20-year-old fashion icon who had already established herself on the Sherri Hill runway suddenly found herself struggling to survive and learn basic functions like walking and talking after surgery. Despite being a four-centimeter monster hiding in her cerebellum, her determination proved stronger than the brain tumor. No parent deserves to witness such a moment, and yet Isabella faced her father through tears while stating, “I’d do anything, I don’t want to die.” Strahan was visibly moved and could only manage a stunned “wow.”

Isabella’s mother Jean Muggli echoed Michael’s emotions when she said, “That was just the worst moment any parent could face.” On the other hand, Sophia was shocked: “I just couldn’t even process it, really. I was kind of in shock.” But Isabella wasn’t going to let this cancer win. She tackled each round of chemotherapy and radiation with a tenacity that even the toughest NFL defenses would respect. And in the end as she came out victorious, not only she herself, but her father also had some realization.

The Strahan’s way: From surviving to thriving

Michael Strahan sums it up perfectly: “Personally, I look at things a lot differently from realizing life is short. It could change like that. I’m very, very proud of her.” As she reclaims her life, Isabella has also become a beacon of hope for others. Through her YouTube vlogs, she shares her journey to raise awareness and support fellow cancer survivors. And, with proceeds from her vlogs, she’s donating to the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center—giving back to the very cause that saved her life. Talk about turning the pain into power.

Isabella believes that the entire ordeal has made her way more mature. “I feel like I’m 50 years old, with all this life experience. I feel like I’ve grown in many ways. I’m super-­grateful for walking and talking again. You don’t think of the things you can do until you live without them,” Isabella had said to the Town And Country Magazine. Also, as Isabella had put it, now she lives for today because one never knows how the day after is going to be.

Michael’s perspective on life has also shifted dramatically. “We’ve always been a close family, but this last year has given me some perspective. At the end of the day, the most important thing is your kids, your family, your mom, your father, your other loved ones—and just to hold them close to you, and your friends as well.” For once, it’s not about making that perfect sack or winning the next game; it’s about savoring each precious day with those you love. And Michael has had plenty to celebrate lately.

In September 2023, he became a grandparent when his eldest daughter, Tanita, welcomed a baby boy. So, yeah, there’s been a lot of joy in the Strahan household—despite the challenges. As for Isabella, she’s gearing up for the next phase of her life—balancing college, her modeling career, and a future that’s shining brighter than ever.