Ralph, Ala. (WDNews) — An Alabama teen whose emotional video helped spark nationwide support for access to an experimental cancer treatment is now in California receiving that treatment as his family continues sharing updates from the journey.
Fifteen-year-old Will Roberts first drew national attention after recording a video on his mother’s Facebook page asking for help obtaining the experimental drug DELTAREX-G. The video quickly spread online, leading to support from public figures, community members and medical advocates.
Since the original story, Will and his family have traveled to Santa Monica, California, where he has officially begun treatment.
According to updates shared by his mother, Brittney Battles Roberts, Will recently received his third dose of DELTAREX-G and is expected to begin chemotherapy alongside the treatment next week.
“Such another amazing day with beautiful weather. Charlie is on the mend back home with no fever. We made it safely to clinic and Will is receiving dose number 3 of DeltaRex-G today,” Roberts wrote.
She also shared that Dr. Mehmet Oz visited Will at the clinic during treatment and that Will was able to speak directly with Robert F. Kennedy Jr..
“Dr. Oz met us today at clinic and Will got to speak directly with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,” she wrote.
Roberts said another emotional moment came when supporters in California arranged for members of an LAPD SWAT team to visit Will during treatment.
“Thank you to all of our support out here in California because y’all lined up members of one of the LAPD Headquarters SWAT teams to come hang out with Will during treatment today,” she shared.
According to Roberts, the officers spent time talking with Will about tactics, training, equipment and experiences, giving the Alabama teenager a break from focusing on treatment.
“When you’re a teenage boy sitting through cancer treatments, getting to talk gear, tactics, training, and hear stories from guys you instantly look up to it does more for the soul than medicine ever could,” she wrote.
“These men didn’t have to take time out of their day to show up for a kid they barely knew all the way from Alabama but they did and for a little while today, treatment seemed nothing like ‘a treatment.’”
Roberts has continued describing the overwhelming support the family has received since Will’s original video was posted online. She said Will’s determination has continued opening doors throughout the process.
“People keep asking how all of this is happening,” she wrote. “It’s because a 15-year-old decided he wasn’t done fighting for his life and God started opening doors that no human could force open alone.”
The family continues providing updates online as supporters across Alabama and beyond follow Will’s fight and continue rallying behind him.
