Will Roberts, Alabama teen Trump admin helped with cancer treatment, dies at 15

WASHINGTON, DC: Will Roberts, the 15-year-old Alabama teenager whose emotional plea for help prompted members of Donald Trump's administration to connect his family with a California cancer center, died on Thursday, July 23, after a courageous battle with a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer.

Sharing the heartbreaking news on Facebook, Will's mother wrote that her son died at 12.45 am Central Time on her birthday, saying, "Our precious Will took his final breath on this earth and entered the presence of Jesus."

Will had been battling osteosarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer, for more than a year.

Grieving mother shares emotional tribute after teen's death

Brittney Battles Roberts announced her 15-year-old son's death, revealing that he died on her birthday, surrounded by his loved ones after the family made the painful decision to end his suffering as cancer spread to his brain.

"Will is finally ringing his forever cancer-free bell as he entered the gates of Heaven," she wrote. "At 12:45 am (Central Time) today, on my birthday, our precious Will took his final breath on this earth and entered the presence of Jesus."

Brittney shared that she, her husband Jason, and close family members stayed by Will's bedside until doctors removed his oxygen and increased his sedation. "Me and Jason were the only ones with him when he took his last breath," she wrote.

Reflecting on the family's 18-month battle against osteosarcoma, Brittney described Will as "so much more than cancer" — a teenager whose humor, determination and faith touched thousands. She said he "loved hard, fought harder, and never stopped believing there was another mountain to climb."

The grieving mother revealed that after doctors confirmed the cancer had progressed to Will's brain and was affecting his mental capacity, she and her husband made the "selfless decision" to stop his suffering.

Despite their heartbreak, Roberts said she believes God answered their prayers differently than they had hoped.

"We prayed for healing every single day... While our hearts desperately wanted healing here, God chose complete healing in Heaven," Brittney expressed. 

She also reflected on how Will's journey inspired people across the country, saying churches prayed for him, strangers became family, and many strengthened their faith through his story.

"Our story with Will didn't end today. It simply changed chapters," she wrote. "We will spend the rest of our lives making sure the world knows who Will was, what God did through Will's life, and how one fifteen-year-old changed more lives than most people ever will." 

Brittney ended her tribute by thanking everyone who supported the family and the staff at Rady Children's Hospital, calling it "the greatest honor" of her life to be Will's mother.

Trump administration helped connect family with experimental treatment

Earlier this year, Will shared a heartfelt video explaining that chemotherapy and conventional treatments were no longer working and that he was running out of options.

The video quickly spread online and eventually reached Trump through an Alabama businessman. It was later shared with members of the administration, including Dr Mehmet Oz, Robert F Kennedy Jr, and Melania Trump.

Following the viral appeal, the family was connected with specialists at the Sarcoma Oncology Center in Santa Monica, California, where Will began receiving innovative therapies and experimental treatments aimed at slowing the disease.

The family's move to California brought renewed hope despite the enormous financial burden. They had already spent more than $100,000 on travel and medical expenses, while a GoFundMe campaign raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support Will's treatment.

In a video after arriving in California, Will thanked everyone who had rallied behind him.

"Man, y'all care so much for me to get this drug and I appreciate it so much," he said.

Although doctors pursued every available option, Will ultimately succumbed to the disease.