'Southern Charm' 's Patricia Altschul Shares Health Update on Butler Michael 22 Months After Stroke

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Michael Kelcourse/Instagram

Michael the Butlerseems to be in good spirits 22 months after suffering a stroke — though his former employer andSouthern Charmstar Patricia Altschul says he can always use a kind word from fans.

Altschul, 81, shared an update with fans at theSouthern Charmpanel on Sunday morning atBravoCon 2022in New York City.

Nearly two years after Kelcoursesuffered an acute spinal cord strokein early 2021, Altschul reported, “He is paralyzed from the chest down. I sent him to the Shepherd Center, which is the foremost center for spinal cord strokes. They rehabilitated him to the point where he can drive a van.He’s living in an assisted living care facilitywith nurses, which he requires. He’s in Sarasota, Florida, close with family, so they’re there to take care of him on a daily basis.”

She continued, “He has a wonderful attitude.He’s on Instagram, so send him messages on Instagram, that would be really nice.”

Altschul fondly spoke of how much Kelcourse “lovesSouthern Charm, loves his fans. He used to stand out in the front of my house making up chores to do because I have fans around my house all the time. He loved to give garden tours and take pictures — so send him a message, that would be really nice.”

As for her nightly cocktail hour — which Kelcourse expertly oversaw during his years tending to Altschul’s Charleston, South Carolina, home — Altschul confirms she’s still the only one who can mix the perfect martini. “I was well trained,” she quipped.

Altschul also encouraged her followers to wish Kelcourse a 69th happy birthday on Oct. 13.

Kelcourse worked for Altschul for nearly two decades before his stroke in February 2021.

“He’s devoted to mom,” Sudler-Smith previously toldBravo’sThe Daily Dish. “He’s the nicest guy in the world. He’s invaluable to my mom because he helps with her coterie of animals.”

Kelcourse appeared on several episodes ofSouthern Charm, where he served champagne to Altschul and her guests, oftentimes chaperoning her around Charleston and even taking her through a McDonald’s drive-through. In August 2021, he posted about his “graduation” from Shepherd Spinal Center, beforemoving into Angels Senior Livingin Sarasota, Florida. Since, he’s committed himself to relearning to walk with the help of Abilities Recovery Center.

While Altschul, 81, may have shared a photo from June of last year to wish her longtime friend a happy birthday, Kelcourse himself continues to update his own Instagram page.

“Thank you Mrs. Altschul,” he commented underneath her post. “You and Whitney always took me to [an] enjoyable dinner on my birthday.”

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In the June 2022season 8 premiereofSouthern Charm, Altschul recalled her reaction to the health emergency.

source: people.com