Michael Strahan got a special surprise for his 19-year-old daughter Isabella amid her battle with medulloblastoma – a rare form of brain cancer – in the form of a visit from her ‘favourite person’.
Isabella has documented the cancer journey in the vlog and tearfully reveals that she was recently surprised by her ‘favorite person ever’, singer Bryson Tiller – as well as rapper Fat Joe.
The heartwarming moment was captured and uploaded to Isabella’s YouTube page, starting with Michael hiding in a foyer with Bryson, Fat Joe and several others as they wait for Isabella to get ready.
‘If she had been in her pajamas when you walked in here… we’d have a problem. She wouldn’t forgive us,’ Michael, 52, jokingly explains as the group wait to meet Isabella.
Michael Strahan had a special surprise for his 19-year-old daughter Isabella, amid her battle with medulloblastoma – a rare form of brain cancer
Isabella revealed she was recently surprised by her ‘favourite person ever’, singer Bryson Tiller (pictured)
The group then sneaks downstairs with bags and flowers and Bryson enters the kitchen and comes face to face with Isabella.
The University of Southern California (USC) freshman was instantly starstruck, left speechless as her favorite singer goes to hug her.
‘Oh God! It’s Bryson Tiller! You’re my favorite person ever,’ she exclaims as they hug and she’s overcome with tears.
‘Sorry, I don’t usually cry like this. It’s so nice to meet you,’ she sighed, tearfully adding that she’s ‘amazing’ when the singer asks her how she’s doing.
The teenager, who revealed last week that she recently had last-minute brain surgery and spent four days in the emergency room due to a rising fever, jumped up and down with excitement.
‘You haven’t moved that much in months!’ her Good Morning America host father observed in amusement.
Michael explains that Fat Joe had seen Isabella’s YouTube videos, and in one filmed on her last day of radiation, she had mentioned that Bryson Tiller was playing – exclaiming that he was her ‘favourite’ – so he helped arrange that he could visit her.
“Bryson was gracious enough to fly in just for you for this,” Michael told an emotional Isabella.
The University of Southern California (USC) freshman was instantly starstruck, left speechless at the sight of his favorite singer
The pair went to build a flower pot Lego set that Bryson bought for her while they chatted about his music process
Isabella emotionally admitted she listened to Bryson’s music during every radiation session after being diagnosed with the rare form of brain cancer
Michael said his daughter Fat Joe had seen Isabella’s YouTube videos and in one filmed on her last day of radiation, she had mentioned Bryson Tiller playing
Isabella admitted she listened to Bryson’s music while undergoing radiation treatment after being diagnosed with brain cancer.
“I don’t usually fangirl,” said the overwhelmed teenager, as her father cut in and lovingly told her, “You’re fangirling.”
“All your cool is out the window,” he joked.
The pair went to build a flowerpot Lego set that Bryson bought for her while they chatted about his music process.
As Bryson’s visit ended, Isabella excitedly told him she had ‘the best Wednesday ever’.
‘Thank you for coming to visit me. This made my whole life,’ she says at the end and gives him a hug goodbye. ‘It was so nice to meet you. I’m the biggest fan ever.’
Isabella explained on GMA in January that she began suffering from ‘excruciating headaches’ during her freshman year of college when she first noticed something had been ‘off since probably September.’
“Like October 1st, that’s when I definitely noticed headaches, nausea, (I) couldn’t walk straight,” she shared in a heartbreaking interview with her father.
Isabella has been open about the pain she has suffered since being diagnosed with the rare form of brain cancer last year
In a recent video, Isabella revealed how difficult it has been for her as the treatment has started to take a toll on her
Last month, the host’s daughter, 19, broke down in tears as she discussed her medulloblastoma – a rare form of brain cancer – diagnosis during an episode of Good Morning America
At first, Isabella said she mistook her symptoms for dizziness. Michael admitted that when his daughter shared her symptoms with him, he never considered that they could be signs that she was fighting cancer, especially because she was only 18 and was so ‘young, strong and healthy’.
Isabella was ultimately diagnosed with medulloblastoma, which – according to GMA – accounts for 20 percent of all childhood brain tumors and is typically found in about 500 children each year, most often those between the ages of five and nine.
Isabella underwent emergency surgery to remove the tumor on October 27, a day before her 19th birthday, with Michael saying doctors wanted to ‘get it out as soon as possible’.
The teenager faced an uphill battle in the aftermath of the operation, undergoing a ‘strenuous month of rehabilitation’ which included learning to walk again.
Isabella revealed her diagnosis to GMA in January, explaining that she began suffering from ‘excruciating headaches’ during her freshman year of college when she first noticed something had been ‘off since probably September’
After the initial surgery, Isabella (seen with her father and sister) underwent several rounds of proton beam therapy, which she completed just one day before her GMA appearance
After the surgery, Isabella underwent several rounds of proton beam therapy, which she completed just one day before revealing her diagnosis to the world.
Isabella has previously opened up about some of the terrible symptoms she has endured as a result of her chemotherapy and recently revealed she underwent emergency brain surgery and was suffering from a 102 degree fever.
‘I’m not feeling well, I’m not feeling terrible, I’ve had worse but I’m not feeling well. I feel like I can hardly walk now,’ she admitted.
Since first opening up about her diagnosis on the morning show, Isabella has documented her harrowing journey on her YouTube account, where she has amassed more than 21,000 subscribers.
Her father added of her decision to be so open about it online, “She (does it) in hopes that other people with the same diagnosis will feel supported and know they’re not alone.”
