Overcoming Adversity & Celebrating Milestones
- It’s wonderful to see “Good Morning America” host Michael Strahan, 52, celebrating the milestone of becoming a grandfather to his daughter Tanita’s newborn son Onyx. It’s certainly been a year filled with ups and downs as his other daughter Isabella battled brain cancer.
- Strahan’s daughter Isabella underwent surgery, radiation therapy, and grueling chemotherapy for treatment before reaching remission in her fight against an agressive type of brain cancer called medulloblastoma.
- Medulloblastoma is a rare primary central nervous system tumor. This type of brain tumor is cancerous and proliferates, making it more likely to spread to other parts of the body.
- Overcoming adversity can seem daunting but having a plan can make it feel achievable. It’s important to remember that setting goals and breaking them into smaller steps is key. When going through a difficult time try setting a goal, making a plan, relying on others, and using positive self-talk.
Speaking on a recent episode of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” the father of four expressed how happy he was to have welcomed a grandson into the world, saying, “My oldest daughter had a baby, 2:30 a.m. yesterday. Little baby boy named Onyx. And it’s fantastic.
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As for his daughter Isabella—who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer called medulloblastoma and ultimately underwent surgery, radiation therapy, and grueling chemotherapy for treatment before reaching remission—Strahan insisted she’s doing well and “cancer-free.”
He continued, “It was a rough year, but we got through it and she’s cancer-free. She’s back in college
Strahan has a total of four children, his eldest daughter Tanita and and son Michael Jr., which he shares with his first wife Wanda Hutchins, as well as Isabella and Sophia, twin sisters he shares with his second wife Jean Muggli.
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The birth of his grandson comes about two months after Strahan took to Instagram to commemorate Isabella’s successful cancer fight.
He wrote alongside a celebratory video of Isabella ringing the “bell” when her cancer treatment ended, “@isabellastrahan you are a SUPERWOMAN! Ringing that bell finishing chemo and on your way!
“You continue to fight with a smile on your face, strength, and determination. I am one proud Dad! Love you, Bella. … Keep inspiring.”
Isabella documented her cancer journey in a series of video blogs and revealed she was “cancer-free” with “clear” scans in her Vlog 25 post shared on June 14.
It’s certainly been a whirlwind of a year as Isabella revealed she was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor after experiencing harsh headaches and nausea and had trouble walking.
More specifically, she had a medulloblastoma, which is a rare primary central nervous system tumor, the National Cancer Institute explains. This type of brain tumor is cancerous and grows quickly, making it more likely to spread to other parts of the body.
Helping Patients Better Understand Brain Cancer
Common symptoms for this type of tumor may include:
- Difficulty walking or balancing
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Difficulty with vision
- Seizures
She first underwent emergency surgery to remove most of the mass in her brain. Additional treatment includes radiation therapy, followed by chemotherapy, to try and get any remaining cancer cells left behind.
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Overcoming Adversity
Overcoming adversity can seem daunting. Many people think reciting upbeat mottos or pretending to be cheerful will help, but these solutions can make someone feel even more dejected than before. Instead, pay attention to the following steps to make meaningful change.
1. Set a goal. No matter what the situation, create a new goal for yourself. If you have just been diagnosed with cancer or a chronic illness, perhaps one goal would be to educate yourself about the disease and the possible treatments as much as possible.
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2. Make a plan. How will you achieve this goal? Your plan will help you focus on that goal. Dr. Siddhartha Ganguly refers to this determined, focused mindset as “the eye of the tiger,” which can help people dealing with health problems, such as lymphoma and other cancers. “You have to have the eye of the tiger to go through this grueling process that is necessary these days to get rid of these virulent and aggressive cancers,” Dr. Ganguly, a cancer specialist at Houston Methodist, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview.
3. Rely on others. Spend time with people who show you unconditional support and encouragement. They will alleviate your stress and help you remember that you’re not alone in this! Dr. Samantha Boardman, a psychiatrist and author, previously told SurvivorNet that one “coping strategy that can be productive is reaching out and talking to others. Having support we know is really critical in the healing process.”
4. Use positive self-talk. Leave messages with affirmations in places you frequent. Put notes around your mirror or the computer screen that say “You got this!” or “Keep going!” Cut out inspirational quotes from people you admire and surround yourself with their words. Dr. Boardman explained to SurvivorNet that “Positive emotions have unique benefits above and beyond managing negative emotions.”
The Benefit of Support Networks for Cancer Patients
Supporting a Family Member Through Cancer
People Isabella Strahan can feel a wide range of emotions when confronted with a cancer diagnosis. Many may feel depressed, anxious, worried, overwhelmed, and even full of grief. Support your loved one as best you can by being a loving, listening ear and lending support, like Michael Strahan has done for his daughter.
Dealing With Grief After a Cancer Diagnosis
Dr. Scott Irwin, director of supportive care service at Cedars-Sinai, explains in an earlier interview the grief that may accompany a cancer diagnosis. “Grief comes in waves,” he says. “It often gets better over time, but at certain days, it can look like depression. And other days, people look perfectly normal and can function.”
“They’re grieving the change in their life, the future they had imagined is now different,” says Dr. Irwin, of how a person may feel after getting a cancer diagnosis.
“In cancer care, sometimes, we’re actually forcing some body changes that are beyond what would be normal aging, and that can be even harder for people to deal with where they don’t feel like themselves.”
Family Love and Support Makes a World of Difference During Cancer Treatment
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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