A 15-year-old Alabama boy battling stage 4 bone cancer posted a desperate video on his mother’s Facebook page that went viral and caught the attention of President Donald Trump.
Will Roberts has been fighting osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer, for 16 months. Standard chemotherapy treatments have not worked, leaving his family searching for alternative options.
The Viral Plea
On April 22, Roberts secretly posted a video to his mother’s Facebook account without her knowledge. “My mom doesn’t know I’m doing this. Yall pls share this my mom might be mad but at this point I’m trying to help her in any way I can right now,” Roberts wrote in the post.
Roberts’ mother had discovered DeltaRex-G, an experimental drug that showed potential for treating his condition. According to the National Library of Medicine, the drug has led to long-term survivorship of 10 years or more for some patients with complex cancer forms.
In the video, Roberts said, “I want my life, just as anybody does, but even if this won’t work out for me, if this drug can get out in the future, I mean, it’ll help hundreds of other kids.” He urged viewers to share the video with President Trump or Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy.
The Response
The video accumulated over 6 million views within days and reached the White House by May 1. Alabama businessman Ric Meyers, a Mar-a-Lago member, forwarded the post to Trump.
First Lady Melania Trump and Trump’s son Barron also viewed the video, according to reports. Multiple U.S. Representatives and senators made calls on Roberts’ behalf, and Trump’s spokesperson indicated the president wanted to meet the teenager.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, helped the family secure an appointment at the Sarcoma Oncology Center in Santa Monica, California. Roberts will receive thirty-minute treatments three times per week.
Financial Challenges and Next Steps
The treatment carries a $500,000 price tag. The family has already spent approximately $100,000 on travel, lodging, and medical expenses.
A GoFundMe campaign was established to support the Roberts family. “This fundraiser is for the Roberts family, a family that would do anything for anyone – the kind of people who show up, lend a hand and open their hearts without ever asking for anything in return,” the fundraiser description states.
As of Monday, the campaign had raised over $658,000. Despite his personal battle, Roberts expressed broader ambitions for pediatric cancer patients nationwide. “I may not survive bone cancer. It might be too late,” Roberts told AL.com. “But if I can help other children have future access to proper cancer drugs without flying all over the world to get them, I’ve done my job.”
This story has been updated. CNN’s Medical and Health Desk contributed to this report.