This piece recounts how 15-year-old Will Roberts from Ralph, Alabama, fought stage four osteosarcoma, used a heartfelt social media plea to seek an experimental treatment, and watched a massive outpouring of support—from local influencers and public figures to the White House—that helped move his case forward toward access to a drug called DeltaRex-G and a trip for care in Santa Monica.
An Alabama local shared a short video from Will Roberts, who has battled osteosarcoma for nearly a year and a half. Will first thought he beat the cancer and even rang the bell at treatment, only to face a brutal recurrence that cost him a leg. His story shows how a single voice can mobilize communities and reach people with influence and resources.
After cancer returned, Will and his mother, Brittney, pursued every possible avenue. Nights of research and sleepless worry led Brittney to share updates on social media, and Will chose to use that platform to speak directly about his condition. The result was an earnest, urgent plea that grabbed the attention of dozens online and beyond.
Fifteen-year-old Will Roberts told WVTM 13 he has been battling stage four osteosarcoma for nearly a year and a half. The rare and aggressive form of bone cancer has taken away the things he loves most, including fishing, hunting and playing sports. He said living with cancer has been frustrating.
“I was very, very frustrated after it had spread everywhere again, because I knew the road was just going to be just as long — if not longer — because I thought I had completely made it. I rang the bell and everything, and they told me I was cancer-free, but then a little bit later they looked at the scans and they saw something was wrong,” Will said.
Will recorded a simple, heartbreaking message about his failed treatments and a potential lifesaving drug his mother found. He asked viewers to share the video and to try to get it in front of powerful people who might help. He named President Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as two people he hoped could be reached to speed his treatment.
My chemos [treatments] are just not working, and I’ve been fighting it for a little bit now, January of 2025. And, it’s just not much is working, I mean, we’ve tried basically everything that there is and we’re getting toward the end of the road, and I need help. Can you all please just share this, like, everything y’all can do to get this video out to either President Donald Trump or Robert F. Kennedy Jr.? That would just help me so much. I’m just, my mom’s found this drug that could possibly save my life if we get it on time.
Will speaks honestly about fear, and that raw honesty became the core of the video’s power. He admitted he was terrified and realistic about the odds, yet he also said he wanted to help other kids even if he didn’t get the treatment in time. That level of courage and perspective moved listeners across political and social lines.
Chances are, is, this is probably the end of the road for me, and they probably won’t get it in time. But if this can help other kids with my cancer, I would love to help in any way I can. But ya’ll, I’m terrified. Just like ya’ll would be if y’all know you’re about to die.
The video spread quickly. Coaches, entertainers, local and national figures amplified Will’s message, and prayers poured in. Within a day the story reached the White House through social channels and officials, prompting responses that helped open channels for treatment approval and logistics.
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Influencers and public figures reposted and commented, and Alabama leaders joined the chorus offering help. The sudden surge of attention led to rapid action from health officials, medical teams, and advocates who connected the family to sources for the drug Will’s mother had found. The momentum led to tele-health meetings and fast-moving plans.
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University figures and community members continued to share Will’s story, and the reach kept growing. The recognition from coaches and politicians produced more contacts and offers of assistance, demonstrating how local voices can trigger national attention in an emergency.
The response included expressions of support from a variety of well-known Alabamians and national personalities, along with lawmakers who publicized the need for swift medical review. Former service members and public servants presented tokens and gestures to honor Will’s bravery, while others helped with logistics for travel and treatment.
Within 24 hours the family reported that federal health officials and the White House had engaged with the case. Outreach from public figures and staffers helped hasten approval pathways and created space for a clinical connection with doctors who could provide access to the experimental therapy.
White House staff involvement and public sharing accelerated the next steps, and representatives posted updates as the family worked with clinicians. Congressman Barry Moore and other friends kept followers informed about the unfolding approvals and arrangements for treatment access and travel.
Those community efforts culminated in confirmation that doctors developing the drug would coordinate with the family, and that a plan to travel for treatment was being arranged. The family’s own posts conveyed shock, relief, and gratitude as doors opened that had previously seemed closed.
It’s truly amazing to see what can be done when Alabamians and folks across the country can unite behind a cause.
In just one day, Will Roberts’ story got the nation’s attention, and just hours ago, Heather and I, our friend @Rictavius_, and others found out that HHS and the White House will be approving Will’s treatment plan.
That said, we encourage you to donate to the GoFundMe below to keep Will and his family going through this fight.
Give what you can, and remember to keep Will in your prayers!
Brittney Roberts later posted a long, emotional update describing how Will’s advocacy shifted the tide. She credited his courage and a network of strangers turned helpers who made calls and found contacts that led to a tele-health appointment and eventual access to DeltaRex-G. Her words reflect a family’s shock and gratitude as plans moved at an urgent pace.
Care teams are arranging travel and treatment in Santa Monica, and the family reported direct contact with doctors who can supply the drug. The story remains active and evolving, but those first 24 hours revealed how one teenager’s voice, amplified by community and officials, can create a window for lifesaving care.
Amen. What a brave and beautiful family.
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