171 Ashley Ave.
Charleston, SC 29425
843-792-1414
800-424-MUSC
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Patient Stories
Will Ravenel
Will Ravenel's first two days at home were just like you'd expect: Feedings, diaper changes and naps. But soon, his parents noticed that their baby seemed especially tired and unwilling to eat. Later, they observed a purple color around Will's mouth - a sign that would tell doctors the boy was having trouble breathing.
His pediatrician advised his parents to take him to MUSC right away. So, at midnight, just four days after bringing Will to their Mount Pleasant home, his mom took off for the MUSC emergency room. In doing so, she saved her baby's life; moments after arriving at MUSC Will stopped breathing.
"All of the sudden a crowd of MUSC emergency personnel jumped into action, shouting orders and performing CPR," says Mrs. Ravenel. "I was in shock - I felt like a zombie." Once he was breathing, doctors moved baby Will to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), where his parents and close family would sit vigil for the next 10 days.
Will had suffered from meningoencephalitis, a severe form of viral spinal meningitis that can lead to seizures, coma, respiratory failure or death. The PICU team helped him fight the infection by keeping him nourished, hydrated, and breathing regularly with ventilator assistance.
"We got very close with everyone on the team," recalls Mrs. Ravenel. "Even the chaplain came by to visit us, see how we were doing. And Child Life services brought us a stuffed animal every Thursday. These little things made us feel so comfortable."
About seven days after his arrival, Will's health took a sudden turn. "It was as if someone flipped a switch," recalls Mrs. Ravenel. "He was alert and hungry and seemed like a totally healthy baby. I just thank God there is place like MUSC in Charleston. We are so lucky. There is no doubt in my mind that they saved my son's life."
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