Romano went on to talk about James Van Der Beek, who died on Feb. 11 from a years-long battle with Stage III colorectal cancer<\/a> at 48 years old. Van Der Beek, like Romano, resided in Austin, where the actress said he was \u201ca pillar of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n The Dawson\u2019s Creek actor\u2019s family and friends set up a GoFundMe page<\/a> for his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, and their six children, to help the family rebuild financially following his death. The Van Der Beeks, according to a statement on the GoFundMe page, experienced \u201csignificant financial strain<\/a> as they did everything possible to support James and provide for his care.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI live in Austin and I was able to meet James Van Der Beek a bunch. His family\u2019s amazing,\u201d Romano tearfully said. \u201cThey always were raising money for the most amazing charities, and he\u2019s not with us anymore. Cancer is everywhere. Which is why I got this test.\u201d<\/p>\n Romano said that she \u201ckind of was in disbelief\u201d about her positive result, as she had just begun filming a movie in Florida. \u201cI didn\u2019t really want to think about it much until I got home,\u201d she said, before adding that this is a \u201cvery vulnerable time for me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbout 367 days since I got shot in the face<\/a>,\u201d Romano said, referring to an incident at a shooting range last June. \u201cTime to have a strong sense of faith and know that it\u2019s in God\u2019s hands, most of it. I\u2019m sure people think I\u2019m overreacting, but I\u2019m not, because cancer\u2019s pretty serious and I have two little girls.\u201d<\/p>\n Christy Romano and Shia LaBeouf on ‘Even Stevens’.<\/p>\n (Disney<\/a> Channel\/Everett Collection)<\/p>\n Romano added, \u201cWhen you\u2019re somebody like me, you kind of have to take life a day at a time. Really be grateful for all the amazing stuff around you.\u201d<\/p>\n In her Instagram caption for the reel, Romano admitted that she was hesitant to share her health update because she didn\u2019t want to seem \u201ccringe.\u201d Ultimately, though, she felt it was \u201cher duty to share so that people get out there and get screenings.\u201d<\/p>\n The former Disney Channel actress received an outpouring of support in the comments from her husband, fellow child actors Jaleel White (Family Matters) and Giovonnie Samuels (The Suite Life of Zack & Cody), and more.<\/p>\n Romano famously starred as Ren Stevens on the hit series Even Stevens from 2000 to 2003, alongside Shia LaBeouf. She went on to voice the titular teen hero on Kim Possible until 2007, before eventually launching Vulnerable, her podcast on which she interviews former child stars. She is also actively working on her memoir<\/a>, which she\u2019s previously teased.<\/p>\n![\"Christy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/tsdevst_wd011.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n