Will Roberts: The Lineman’s Fight for Life After Devastating Chemotherapy Complications

In a small hospital room in Shreveport, Louisiana, 24-year-old utility lineman Will Roberts lies connected to machines that are keeping him alive. Just weeks after being discharged following near-fatal electrical injuries, he is now fighting for his life again — this time against severe complications from chemotherapy.

Doctors say his heart and kidneys are under extreme strain. The next 48 to 72 hours are critical.

Will’s story began in January during a brutal ice storm in Jonesboro. While restoring power for families left in the dark, he suffered a massive electrical surge that burned his arms and hands from shoulders to fingertips. Multiple emergency surgeries, including fasciotomies and skin grafts, followed. For a time, doctors feared they might have to amputate both arms.

“His organs are struggling,” one of the attending physicians told BBC News on condition of anonymity. “We are doing everything possible to stabilise him, but the damage from the initial trauma combined with the side effects of treatment has created a very delicate situation.”

A Family’s Silent Vigil

Outside the intensive care unit, Will’s family keeps a quiet but exhausting vigil. His father, Daren, has barely slept in days. His wife Katie has not left the hospital corridor for long periods.

“We thought the worst was behind us when he came home,” Katie said in a brief statement shared with supporters. “Now we’re back here again, praying every hour. Will is a fighter. He climbed those poles in the ice storm for strangers. We know he’ll fight for us too.”

The family has asked for privacy but has continued to update a GoFundMe page originally set up to cover medical bills. Donations have surged again as news of the latest crisis spread. As of Tuesday morning, the fund had raised over $210,000, with fresh contributions arriving every few minutes.

The Hidden Toll of Recovery

Medical experts say cases like Will’s highlight the long and unpredictable road many severe electrical injury patients face. Electrical burns often cause hidden damage to muscles, nerves and blood vessels that can surface weeks or months later.

“Chemotherapy and other aggressive treatments are sometimes necessary, but they carry their own risks,” said Dr Elena Ramirez, a critical care specialist not involved in Will’s care. “Organ stress, especially to the heart and kidneys, is a known complication. The body has limits, even for someone as young and strong as Will.”

Supporters have compared Will’s resilience to that of other everyday heroes — firefighters, paramedics and linemen who risk their lives so others can have power and heat during disasters.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who visited Hunter earlier in his recovery, posted a short message on social media: “Will is a warrior. Sending strength and prayers to him and his family. Keep fighting, brother.”

What Happens Next?

Doctors have not given a definitive prognosis. They emphasise that every hour counts. If circulation and organ function can be stabilised in the coming days, Will may have a chance at a long recovery. If not, the consequences could be life-changing.

For now, the family waits. Friends and members of the tight-knit lineman community in Louisiana have organised prayer vigils and meal deliveries to support Katie and Will’s parents.

Will’s own words from earlier in his recovery are being shared widely online: “Still kicking.”

As the clock ticks in the ICU, those two words have become both a rallying cry and a plea.