The idiom “every cloud has a silver lining” holds true in the emotional tale of strength, sisterhood, and perseverance told by Michael Strahan‘s twin daughters.

Isabella and Sophia Strahan gave fans a rare glimpse at their childhood and one of the most challenging ordeals they have ever faced: Isabella’s brain tumor diagnosis. The shocking condition was discovered a day before their 19th birthday, and the diagnosis forever changed their bond.

Michael Strahan welcomed the twins on October 28, 2004, during his second marriage to Jean Muggli. The former couple tied the knot in 1999 and finalized their divorce in 2006. The NFL legend also shares a daughter and a son with his first wife, Wanda Hutchins.Isabella and Sophia joined the star-studded list featured in ABC News correspondent Deborah Roberts’ upcoming new book, “Sisters Loved and Treasured: Stories of Unbreakable Bonds.” They gave a candid reflection of their sisterly bond, taking fans down memory lane in an excerpt shared with PEOPLE.

kids, noting they didn’t realize what it meant to be twins at a young age. Although they shared similar hobbies and interests, they understood from a young age that they were different people on the inside.

Isabella confessed that she disliked being referred to as “the twins,” stressing that she and Sophia had their own identities. They soon began to do things differently, from their clothes to their friend groups, and would sometimes clash over their differences.

However, things changed when Isabella was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2023. She fell ill during her first year at college and initially thought it wasn’t a big deal until doctors confirmed the tumor was cancerous. The diagnosis became the foundation of the sisters’ enduring bond.

Sophia recalled feeling perplexed by her sister’s brain tumor diagnosis, noting that the news didn’t feel real. Nonetheless, she immediately rushed out to be by Isabella’s side and left for Los Angeles at 5 o’clock in the morning.

She arrived a half hour before she went into surgery, ensuring she gave her the support needed to face the operation. Isabella noted her cancer diagnosis “put so much into perspective” as she came to appreciate her family, particularly Sophia, even more.

“It turned everything upside down. It changed the dynamic of our relationship for a while because I was supporting her a lot and being there for her, which is not something I’ve really had to do before,” Sophia explained. Isabella agreed that her cancer battle was a blessing in disguise, noting, “It’s brought us a lot closer.”

Although Isabella was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2023, she did not reveal her condition until early 2024. The Blast covered the story, reporting that she and Michael broke the news during a joint appearance on “Good Morning America.”

Michael shared pictures from the interview on Instagram ahead of its release, penning his love and support for Isabella. He declared that he would always stand by her side and thanked fans for their well-wishes and prayers.

Isabella was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a prevalent malignant tumor originating in the cerebellum. The cancerous condition was discovered in October 2023 and underwent emergency surgery at Cedars-Sinai, a day before her 19th birthday.

Following the revelation of her cancer diagnosis, Isabella kept fans updated about her well-being through her YouTube channel. The Blast shared in April 2024 that she opened up about a delay in her chemotherapy treatment after her third brain surgery.

Isabella explained that she was hospitalized following a high fever that sparked multiple scans and an IV treatment. She got emotional while recalling the procedure, explaining that she had not received an IV treatment in a long time.

The former NFL player’s daughter added that she had to experience fluid drainage, noting that the procedure was excruciating because she had to be awake. Then she underwent another craniotomy just one month after the second operation, which caused the postponement of her subsequent chemotherapy treatment.

Months after Isabella’s health update, The Blast reported that her father had become the internet’s punching bag for his behavior during the national anthem. The drama occurred during the Fox NFL Sunday broadcast on Veterans Day, when Michael failed to place a hand on his chest during the anthem.

Many found his actions “disrespectful” and vehemently called him out for behaving rudely and failing to appreciate veterans. Some even called for Michael’s cancellation, stressing that he should have known better, given his army background.

Following the backlash, a reporter attempted to get Michael’s side of the story and approached him outside his home. However, the former athlete did not appreciate being disturbed in his private space and threw the stutterbug’s phone into a nearby bush.

Isabella and Sophia Strahan’s emotional sisterhood story will be available for purchase on October 21.