Michael Strahan's heartbreaking revelation comes with a lesson about privacy. Will we listen?
Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella was diagnosed with a brain tumor, the pair told Robin Roberts on "Good Morning America" Thursday. The revelation comes after Strahan took a three-week break from his "GMA" hosting duties in the fall.
Eventually, it was disclosed that Strahan had missed work due to "personal family matters," but the vagueness of that statement still meant fans on social media had questions; Strahan's absence was called "mysterious" as outlets reported he had been "MIA" at work. There was some gossip and speculation. People wanted to know more.
This months-later revelation reminds us that no family – famous or otherwise – is immune to heartbreak and crisis and everyone deserves privacy when they withhold details. Serious, sad stories often lurk behind silence.
"Public figures need privacy to cope, heal, and develop a strategy to move forward just like everyone else," says Amy Morin, psychotherapist, author of "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do" and the host of a podcast. "Working through issues privately can give them space to manage their emotions and strategize how to move forward without the distraction of outside opinions."
More details: Michael Strahan and daughter Isabella, 19, reveal brain tumor diagnosis on 'GMA'
Michael Strahan and why 'boundaries are essential'
One day before Isabella's 19th birthday, she had surgery to remove the tumor – medulloblastoma – which was slightly larger than a golf ball. Medulloblastoma is a cancer that typically develops in the cerebellum, the back of the brain responsible for movement and motor skills, according to the National Cancer Institute. Isabella finished radiation therapy on Wednesday and will begin chemotherapy in February.
"I'm looking forward to getting back to college and moving back to California and just starting my school experience over," she said. "Not over, but just restarting, being back into a routine and something that's enjoyable."
The father and daughter chose to share the story after some time had passed. This shows how much care they took managing the crisis.
"Boundaries are essential to lead a healthy life," says Laura Petiford, a licensed marriage and family therapist. "Healthy people respect the boundaries that others establish for themselves."
It's easy to ignore others' boundaries, however, in current times. "In the age of social media, the general public has become trained to share not only their most private moments, but to also expect others to do the same," says psychologist Reneé Carr.
'Respect the privacy of a loved one'
In Strahan's case, this wasn't his health crisis, but his daughter's. The tentacles of celebrity affect everyone in someone's orbit, though, and increased interest in the wake of illness could have put further stress on a stressful situation.
"If they want to keep their crisis private, it's important to respect that," Morin adds. "They may need space to process their feelings without outside opinions. They may also be trying to respect the privacy of a loved one by not sharing details."
On celebrities: Ben Affleck's face, Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher's awkwardness and never-ending gossip
'They have not forfeited their human need'
The public often insists they deserve to know all the ins and outs of celebrities lives. Lines blur when the person presented the world isn't always the same happy-go-lucky person behind closed doors.
"If we put ourselves in their shoes, we would want to be able to have a private life especially when dealing with sensitive or difficult issues," Petiford adds. "Yes, they have chosen to lead a life that is more in the public eye but they have not forfeited their human need to draw a distinct line between themselves and those who are interested in them."
You'd want the same privacy for yourself during life's cruelest moments, wouldn't you?
"In our own lives, as a general public, if we had a cancer diagnosis, experienced a marital betrayal, or had a family tragedy, we would not only want, but would also need, privacy," Carr adds." We need privacy to not only cope with the situation, but to also try to makes sense of what has happened or is happening to us and try to figure out how to move on."
Moreover, no one going through a difficult time wants to hear every opinion about their situation, whether you're a celebrity or not.
"Comments from other people can be upsetting and distracting," Morin says. "During a crisis, it's important to devote your energy to things that matter most. You only have so much time and energy and the last thing you want to do is waste it on combating outside forces that could affect your decision-making."
Contributing: Naledi Ushe
Interesting: She survived 9/11. Then she survived cancer four times.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michael Strahan, daughter Isabella's cancer: The need for privacy
