There are phrases we sometimes use casually—words like strong, brave, or fighter. But every once in a while, a story comes along that gives those words their true meaning. Fourteen-year-old Will Roberts of Ralph, Alabama, is one of those stories. His journey is not defined by weakness, but by endurance. Not by fear, but by faith. And not by cancer, but by courage.
Yesterday, Will underwent yet another major surgery at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, one of the world’s leading hospitals for cancer treatment. It was not his first surgery. It was not his second. It was one more chapter in a long and grueling battle that has demanded more from a teenage boy than should ever be asked of someone his age.
“The surgery lasted longer than expected,” Will’s father, Jason, texted late last night.
What was expected to be a long procedure stretched even further. After more than ten hours in the operating room, the surgery finally concluded just before 7:00 p.m. Central Time. Ten hours—ten hours of waiting, praying, hoping, and trusting—for a family that has already learned the meaning of patience the hardest way possible.
Will is fighting osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer. Osteosarcoma does not negotiate. It does not retreat easily. It attacks with persistence and cruelty, often targeting young people who should be focused on school, sports, friendships, and dreams—not hospital rooms and surgical consent forms.
Months ago, surgeons made the devastating but necessary decision to amputate Will’s left leg below the knee in an effort to stop the spread of the disease. It was a life-altering moment—one that would shake even the strongest adults. But Will faced it with a resilience that stunned those around him.
Weeks later, he underwent an even more complex and extraordinary procedure known as rotationplasty. In that surgery, Will’s foot was rotated and attached to his knee joint, allowing him to eventually use a prosthetic limb more effectively. It is a procedure that requires not only immense surgical skill, but extraordinary mental and emotional strength from the patient.
Still, the cancer was not finished.
Just days ago, Will endured another major operation—surgeons cut from one hip to the other to remove a tumor located deep within his pelvic area. It was invasive. It was painful. And it was absolutely necessary.
Then came yesterday.
Yesterday’s surgery focused on removing two large cancerous lesions from Will’s right femur. The stakes were high. The procedure was long. The outcome uncertain. For hours, Will’s parents waited, clinging to faith while time seemed to stretch endlessly.
Yet through it all, Will remained strong.
And behind that strength stood two unwavering pillars: his parents, Jason and Brittney.
They have been nothing short of remarkable—steadfast in their love, tireless in their advocacy, and anchored in prayer. When exhaustion threatened to overwhelm them, they leaned into faith. When fear whispered worst-case scenarios, they answered with hope. And when their son needed reassurance, they were there—every single time.
Last night, as Will was moved into recovery following the long surgery, Brittney shared words straight from her heart. They were raw, honest, and deeply grounded in faith:
“We are now in recovery,” she wrote.
“We met with the doctor and she feels confident she was able to reach both tumors and freeze them entirely.”
Those words carried a wave of relief. After hours of uncertainty, there was cautious optimism.
“Will has woken up and spoken to us,” Brittney continued.
In moments like these, even the smallest signs—a voice, a word, a squeeze of the hand—feel like miracles.
“We will stay in recovery for about two hours so they can monitor him and then he will be transported to his room.”
But even in that relief, concern remained.
“Please pray for fast healing and for his pain,” she asked.
“He was in a lot of pain prior to going back for this procedure.”
Doctors believe that Will’s stomach pain is caused by bladder spasms related to the earlier pelvic surgery, where the tumor was cut from the outer edges and then sewn back together. It is another reminder of how much his body has endured—and how much healing still lies ahead.
“I am a bit relieved,” Brittney admitted, allowing herself a small breath in the midst of constant tension.
In the waiting hours, the family did something beautifully ordinary.
“We played dominoes to get our minds off of everything,” she wrote.
In a hospital room filled with monitors, machines, and uncertainty, a simple game became a lifeline. A reminder that they are still a family. Still together. Still present in the moment.
“And we told ourselves he’s in no better hands than God’s,” Brittney continued, “and that we are right where God led us.”
They prayed over Will when they got to the room. They thanked God—not only for healing, but for the blessing of making it this far. For strength. For access to care. For another day together.
“We are doing everything to get him the best care,” Brittney wrote, “but at the end of the day God is the one in control—and it’s where our faith has to take over.”
Her honesty was powerful.
“I have to be pulled back up at times,” she admitted. “And today was one of those days. I’m back.”
Faith does not mean never falling. Sometimes it means being lifted when you can no longer stand on your own.
“Tomorrow is a new day,” she concluded, “and a day for him to grow stronger from this fight he’s just endured.”
This family believes.
They believe in the power of prayer. They believe in the hands of skilled doctors. And above all, they believe that God is walking with them through every step of this journey.
Will’s road ahead will not be easy. Recovery will be long. Rehabilitation will be demanding. There will be setbacks, hard days, and moments when the road feels steep and unforgiving.
But Will is not walking it alone.
And neither are his parents.
We can help smooth the path ahead—through prayers, encouragement, love, and unwavering support. We can remind this young warrior that his fight matters, that his strength inspires, and that his story is far from over.
Because Will Roberts is not just surviving.
He is fighting.
