Editor’s note: Chance Atlas Ezekiel Jones, 19-month-old son of Ronnie Carlos Jones and Crystal Lashunda Rapp, died Saturday, March 8, 2025 at Self Regional Medical Center. This video was filmed in February and his family wished for his story to continue being shared.
In his 19 months of life, Chance Jones experienced a remarkable journey. Born prematurely at 25 weeks gestation, he fought for life from the very start. His fragile body, weighing only one pound at birth, was further weakened by heart and lung problems due to Down syndrome.
His mother, Crystal Rapp, said her family chose the name Chance because God had given their miracle baby a chance at life.
Nurtured by the love and support of his family, and the dedicated care of hospital staff, Chance grew bigger and stronger. After 114 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Chance went home but his health issues were still complex. He remained on oxygen and had a feeding tube. As a medically complex baby, he required care from doctors at Prisma Health’s Ferlauto Center for Complex Pediatric Care located in Greenville, more than 50 miles away from his family’s home in Greenwood.
For patients like Chance, who rely on medical equipment for stability, any amount of travel is precarious. That’s why telehealth is a big help for medically complex patients. After an initial visit with Chance’s pediatrician, Dr. Cady Williams, Crystal was given a telehealth kit to take home. The kit included peripheral devices like a digital stethoscope and otoscope which allowed Dr. Williams to examine Chance remotely.
Crystal said telehealth was a blessing to her family because it gave them access to care whenever they needed it, at any time of the day or night, without the stress of traveling to the doctor’s office.
