Michael Kelcourse, Patricia Altschul's beloved butler on "Southern Charm," has suffered a "spinal cord stroke."

Patricia's son, Whitney Sudler-Smith, broke the heartbreaking news to Bravo's The Daily Dish on Feb. 23.
"I am sorry to inform you that Michael Kelcourse, affectionately known as 'Michael The Butler', recently suffered an acute spinal cord infarction which is often called a 'spinal cord stroke,'" Whitney said. "Although this tragedy has caused significant nerve damage and impairment, with the help of the outstanding physicians at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, we are hopeful Michael will soon recover. Thank you for respecting Michael's privacy during this challenging time."
It's unclear why Michael The Butler, who lives in Charleston, South Carolina, is in Atlanta.
Michael, who's worked for Patricia for 17 years, has been a fan favorite on the reality TV show since its inception.
In her book "The Art of Southern Charm," Patricia opened up about meeting Michael.
"I met with Michael immediately and persuaded him to come work for me, even as he was finishing his responsibilities in [another] household," she wrote, describing hiring him as the "best thing I could have done."
In 2018 while speaking to The Daily Dish, Whitney said of Michael, "He's devoted to mom. He's the nicest guy in the world. He's invaluable to my mom because he helps with her coterie of animals."