Teen with Down syndrome ‘now with God’ after battle with COVID-19, Alabama family says
An Alabama family gave their final farewell to their daughter this week after a battle with the coronavirus.
Chloe Rollins was taken off a ventilator at UAB Hospital in Birmingham late Wednesday and died around 8:45 p.m., relatives told WIAT. Rollins was 19 years old.
“Danny and I would like to say thank you to all who prayed for Chloe and sent kind words,” the teen’s mother, Stacy Whitworth Rollins, wrote on Facebook. “Our Angel is now with God.”
Prayers and condolences poured in, with the community remembering Rollins as a sweet, fun-loving teen who enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Rollins, who had Down syndrome, was a recent graduate of Hoover High School and “loved everything about life,” WVTM 13 reported.
“She loves to dance and sing — she’s a natural performer,” according to the station. “She loves country music — if there’s a Blake Shelton concert in the area, Chloe is there. She loves the beach and the feel of sand between her toes. She loves people. In fact, she loves you.”
COVID-19 left the teen paralyzed and on a ventilator. She was diagnosed with the illness Aug. 2 and has been sedated since, WIAT reported.
Her mother asked for a “miracle” as they prepared to remove her from life support Wednesday.
“We are having to say our final goodbyes to Chloe tonight,” Stacy Whitworth Rollins wrote. “If it’ her time to fly high with the angels, please pray for us! My heart is breaking into a million tiny pieces.”
As of Thursday, the U.S. reported over 5.5 million coronavirus cases and over 173,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. Alabama, like many other states, has seen a resurgence in the virus, with people aged 18-24 accounting for about 14% percent of the state’s 107,000 cases, data from the state’s Department of Public Health show.
The Facebook group “Prayers for Chloe” has amassed more than 4,000 members who offered thoughts and prayers to the family.