By VICKI BROWN
vbrown@lowcountry.com
Louise Ravenell turned 100 years old on April 30, 2021. To celebrate, her physician, Dr. Luis Vega planned a special surprise.
Ravenell has been a patient of Dr. Vega’s for 10 years. During that time, a friendship has grown between the two.
“This lady is sharp. She takes care of her own house and still cooks,” said Dr. Vega, who took time to visit her on her birthday. He had originally planned to take her to lunch, but Ravenell said she wasn’t feeling well enough to battle the heat and crowd. So, Vega went a different route.
Dr. Vega brought her balloons and a corsage that she immediately attached to her shirt.
With her nails painted blue this remarkable lady doesn’t seem like she could possibly be 100 years old. “People say that old folks can’t remember anything…but I remember everything! I remember being five years old and picking cotton to put in a bag I carried,” she said. Next, she began to talk about how she managed to reach the age of 100 and still be healthy. “I don’t eat anything greasy,” said Ravenell. “I won’t touch pork chops or pork for anything. I won’t touch grease.”
Dr. Vega agreed that for the most part she was healthy, just a little hard of hearing. “She has been my patient for a long time, and I wanted to surprise her because she is such a sweet, delightful and warm person,” said Dr. Vega.
Ravenell said she loves Dr. Vega, too. “He doesn’t make me run all over everywhere to see all of these other doctors. He treats me right here. I don’t hold with that idea of going to Charleston or Summerville to see doctors,” said Ravenell.
The birthday girl also said that she thanked God for Dr. Vega and owed God for her longevity. “God has blessed me and been good to me,” said Ravenell. “Recently I had trouble with my TV service and bill. I kept paying my bill thinking they would cut off my TV service because it kept going out,” she said. “But they came and fixed it and said I was paid up for the next four months…that’s how great God is,” she added.
Ravenell and Dr. Vega hope that their friendship will continue for many more years. “I feel good,” she said. “I’m not going anywhere any time soon.”
