Will Roberts Is Touching Hearts And Sparking Hope

Will Roberts is a remarkable young man, and he is in the fight of his life, for his life, against cancer. His story has been featured in multiple national media outlets, and he has become an inspiration to millions.

The 15-year-old is a resident of Ralph, an unincorporated community of just over 1,800 in southwest Tuscaloosa County. He’s fighting for his life against stage 4 bone cancer, called osteosarcoma, which has spread throughout his body.

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Will went public with his plea, posting it on his mom’s Facebook page and appearing on the Steve and DC Morning Show on Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa's 95.3 The Bear last month.

"I've been fighting osteosarcoma for the last 16 months. It's a very, very, very deadly and very hard to treat bone cancer, and my chemos are just not working," he told viewers of the video and morning show listeners.

The youth told listeners on the morning show that his mother had read about a special drug that the Roberts family had not been able to get. Steve and DC reached out to Ric Mayers, a friend of the program.  He relayed the information and video to The White House and medical professionals who could help.

The video went viral and has been viewed more than 6 million times. Word eventually reached Dr. Mehmet Oz, the former cardiothoracic surgeon and television personality who now runs the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. He made calls to the drug's maker and got things moving.

Will and his parents, Jason and Brittney, are now in California. This morning, former Birmingham TV news and sportscaster Rick Karle posted on his Facebook account that yesterday was the first full day in Santa Monica, and they have already had their first appointment at the Sarcoma Oncology Center, where cutting-edge medical technology is available.

Karle quoted Brittney as writing, “This journey has stretched us in every way possible mentally, physically, and spiritually but today felt like confirmation and God saying, ‘I’ve been guiding you the whole time…I’m with you.’

“We didn’t come to California for comfort. We came for a chance, but what we’ve found here… between the people, the doors that have opened, and the peace we’ve felt walking through them that it’s been so much more than that.

“And if there’s one thing I know for sure today… We are exactly where we are supposed to be and I have hope."

“We will return tomorrow and Wednesday and have all three doses completed for the week.

Treatment is underway, and things are looking promising. Keep praying."

Friends of the family have started a GoFundMe to help fund the trip to California and other expenses.

You can follow Will's continuing story at Brittney Battles Roberts Facebook page

(NOTE: Some lowlife individuals have posted fake GoFundMe accounts and other money-raising pleas. Use only the link posted above to contribute to Will's fight.)