1. A moment they’ve been praying for — and a breath of hope at last.
As the sun rises on New Year’s Day 2026, the Roberts family is experiencing what many are calling a “New Year’s Miracle.” After a harrowing 48 hours that saw Will rushed back to the hospital in agonizing pain and Brantley fighting for his life in the ICU, two massive breakthroughs have changed the atmosphere from one of desperation to one of profound hope.
Here is the update that has the “Will Power” community rejoicing today.
THE ICU BREAKTHROUGH: Brantley Breathes on His Own
For weeks, the updates on Brantley—Will’s close friend and fellow warrior at Children’s of Alabama—have been fraught with talk of ventilators, blood clots, and “critical stability.” But today, the milestone the family has been praying for finally arrived.
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Off the Vent: Doctors have successfully extubated Brantley. Being “off the ventilator” is a hard-won victory that indicates his lungs are finally strong enough to sustain him after a series of life-threatening setbacks.
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The Road Ahead: While he is still in the ICU and remains in a “fragile” state, being able to breathe independently is the clearest sign yet that the immediate crisis has passed. His parents describe it as the “best New Year’s gift we could ever receive.”
THE RELIEF FOR WILL: From “Intense Suffering” to Pain-Free
Simultaneously, the news regarding Will Roberts has taken a dramatic turn for the better. After being admitted for “sudden, intense” leg pain that robbed him of his ability to walk just two days ago, the medical team has achieved a breakthrough in his care.
1. The Pain is Gone
Will is officially pain-free today. After a stretch where the pain was so severe it “made the room go quiet,” the combination of targeted intravenous pain management and a localized procedure has finally given his body a rest. For a child who has spent months showing “grit and determination,” seeing him relax and smile again is a monumental relief for his parents.
2. The Mobility Goal
The immediate goal for New Year’s Day is to get Will back on his feet. Now that the acute pain is managed, physical therapists are working with him to ensure he doesn’t lose the mobility he fought so hard to regain during his recent hunting trip.
3. The “Necrotic” Strategy
With the pain stabilized, the oncology team is turning their full attention back to the lung nodules. The fact that they appear “necrotic” (dying) despite their growth remains the focus. If Will stays pain-free, he will be able to complete his final “mop-up” chemo rounds as scheduled in mid-January.
TWO LIVES, ONE MISSION: Hope Finds a Way
The Roberts family and Brantley’s family have become inextricably linked through this journey. To see both boys achieve major breakthroughs on the same day is being hailed as a “double blessing” by their supporters.
“We spent New Year’s Eve in a hospital room, but we’re spending New Year’s Day in a sanctuary of hope,” a family spokesperson shared. “Watching Brantley breathe and watching Will smile… it’s a reminder that even the darkest seasons have a sunrise.”
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