2s. Will Roberts Faces Ongoing Battle with Bone Cancer, Family Shares Courage Amid Uncertainty
Elrod, AL — For 13-year-old Will Roberts and his parents, every day is a mixture of hope, prayer, and unwavering determination. Will, a brave middle school student from Sipsey Valley Middle School, has been battling bone cancer for months, and recent scans have shown both progress and new challenges.
Earlier this week, Will’s mother, Brittney Roberts, shared an intimate update after learning the results of his latest scans at Children’s of Alabama. Some new spots were detected, while previous areas of concern remained unclear, leaving the family with mixed emotions.
“After reading the scans, I dreaded the walk back to the car,” Brittney wrote. “We have never hidden anything from Will about his diagnosis, so I calmly told him that his chemo pill didn’t appear to be working as we hoped. He asked if it had spread, and I explained that there were a few new spots and the PET scan wasn’t clear on his previous ones. He got quiet, processing the information in his own way.”
Despite the heavy news, Brittney emphasized the importance of perspective and faith. “I asked Will, ‘What is the only thing that’s different this afternoon than when you woke up today?’ He couldn’t answer, so I told him, nothing. You feel the same right now as you did this morning. All we received were words on a piece of paper, and those words do not change the life we woke up to today. They don’t change the joy waiting for us at home. They don’t get to steal our peace.”
The Roberts family maintains a routine of hope and gratitude even in difficult times. Singing praise music on the drive home, sharing a meal, and speaking words of life over their son are daily practices that help them remain strong.
Will’s mother, who is also a cancer survivor herself, reflected on the experience: “38 years ago I fought cancer. The radiation and chemo sapped me, but nothing would have sapped me more than to see one of my children fighting cancer. Take me, I would tell Him.”
The family continues to wait for further guidance from Will’s oncologist, hoping for news that will bring clarity and direction for his treatment plan. In the meantime, they are leaning on the support of friends, family, and their community, asking for continued prayers for Will’s healing, strength, and comfort.
As they navigate this journey, the Roberts family remains steadfast: Will is not defined by the words on a scan report but by the life he lives every day, surrounded by love, faith, and resilience.
I’ve been thinking lately about our friends Jason and Brittney Roberts.
I’ve been thinking about how the Roberts and every parent who has a child battling cancer holds up.
I can’t fathom their pain or their worry.
Brittney Roberts wrote a post yesterday that touched my heart.
She wrote about learning some of the results of her son Will’s latest scans conducted at Children’s Of Alabama.
Will has been fighting bone cancer.
With the blessings of Brittney, I’d like to bring you her post after she learned some good news and some bad news.
Writes Brittney:
“After reading the scans yesterday (Thursday) and hearing our oncologist say the treatment didnt appear to be working with new spots, I dreaded the walk back to the car.
“We have never hidden anything from Will about his diagnosis, so as I pushed his wheelchair toward the parking deck, I told him calmly that I was going to message his MD Anderson oncologist because his chemo pill didn’t appear to be doing what we had hoped.
“He asked if it had spread.
I told him there were a few new spots, and that the PET scan wasn’t clear on his previous ones.
“He got quiet as we pulled out of the parking deck.
“I asked him if he knew what was different than what it had been that morning. He looked at me confused, so I asked again: What is the only thing that’s different this afternoon than when you woke up today?
“He couldn’t answer, so I told him, nothing.
“You feel the same right now as you did this morning. All we received were words on a piece of paper and those words do not change the life we woke up to today. They don’t change how your body feels. They don’t change the joy waiting for us at home. They don’t get to steal our peace.
“I told him we were going home to eat a big steak Daddy was cooking, and we were not letting fear take over our mindset.
“We sang praise music all the way home.
We did not let the Devil win.
“I prayed out loud while driving, and told Will my prayer would not change. I will continue to thank God for healing Will’s body of every single cancer cell. I will continue to speak life- only life- over my child.
“I didn’t lose sleep last night and I didn’t cry.
“Because yesterday didn’t take anything from us that today had already given.
“And we’re still standing.”
38 years ago I fought cancer- the radiation and chemo sapped me.
But nothing would have sapped me more than to see one of my children fighting cancer.
“Take me,” I would tell Him.
Will and his parents will learn more tomorrow about the scan results, and while we all pray for Good News, let us pray for every parent whose child has cancer.
May we offer them strength and hope.
May we remind them we have their backs.
