Having a baby under the care of MUSC Women’s Health with the Lancaster Medical Center means much more than just being another patient making your scheduled appointments. It’s said that in a smaller, more tight-knit community, the bonds often grow faster and deeper, especially with trusted medical providers.
That was certainly the experience for Ryleigh Jackson. At 27 years old, she was embarking on her first pregnancy journey and knew exactly where she would go for her prenatal appointments and where she would deliver.
For Ryleigh, who was born and raised in Lancaster, she simply wasn’t going to have her baby anywhere else. Going to MUSC Women’s Health and the Lancaster Medical Center was nonnegotiable.
The reasons were plenty. She herself was born at that very hospital 27 years ago. Greg Miller, M.D., who would be delivering her baby, also delivered her best friend, who was a twin, 27 years ago. Not to mention, she could relate to Miller because he was becoming a grandfather for the first time while Jackson was becoming a mother for the first time. Both were embracing major life events. Also, Jackson’s mother works in administration at Lancaster Medical Center, and many people there know her.
All the signs were there, and the stars were aligned: Lancaster Medical Center was going to be the hospital to welcome Jackson’s first baby.
To no surprise, Jackson’s experience with MUSC Women’s Health in Lancaster was, in her words, “nothing short of stellar.”
She immediately bonded with physician assistant Ivy Ross, who took care of her during her prenatal appointments.
“I felt safe and heard,” Jackson shared. “There is so much information coming at you when you have a baby for the first time. My care team would always answer all my questions, and they would explain everything to me so that I could make informed decisions. They just have a level of attentiveness and a knowledge base that is unmatched, in my opinion.”
The attention to detail impressed Jackson. She said they never forgot the name she had chosen for her baby. Also, Jackson did not have a gender reveal party, but when she was at her ultrasound to find out the gender, the care team gave her a mini gender reveal party, decorated with pink balloons and all for her future little girl.
On January 5, at 11:30 p.m., Jackson delivered Eddison “Sonni” Monroe. She weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces. She revealed that her delivery, by Miller, was uneventful for the most part. Everything went well.
Jackson praised the whole care team for her stellar experience.
It’s the small things that matter. They made sure my pillow was wedged right behind my back; they took care of everything. My mom and husband didn’t have to lift a finger.
“I want all patients to feel at ease. One of my favorite aspects of MUSC Women’s Health-Lancaster is the strong sense of community among our patients, providers and staff. It is rare to go a single day without meeting someone who was referred by a loved one or who already has a personal connection to our team. That familiarity creates an immediate sense of comfort and trust. Patients know they will be cared for beyond what might be expected from a typical prenatal visit,” Ross said.
Now, six months later, Jackson said she and Sonni are doing quite well, and Ross has checked in on her several times.
“Ryleigh’s journey was very special to me, as I had known her mother for some time before meeting her. When we first met, we immediately connected. It felt more like a long-lost friend rather than a traditional provider/patient relationship. What made her experience unique was that I cared for her in a gynecologic setting before her pregnancy. Watching her grow from someone who was curious but understandably nervous about becoming pregnant into a thriving mother of a beautiful baby girl has been incredibly rewarding."
Moments like this highlight one of the most meaningful aspects of OB-GYN care: supporting patients through some of the most significant milestones of their lives.
“The excitement truly never fades,” added Ross.
MUSC Health-Lancaster Medical Center
Theresa Stratford
Theresa Stratford is the editor for MUSC’s newspaper, The Catalyst. She has worked as a writer and editor for 25 years since graduating from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and mass communications. As a writer, she has worked for the federal government in cybersecurity and for the Department of Energy. As both a writer and an editor, she has worked for a variety of syndications, including national magazines, such as Vogue Knitting, as well as many local Charleston and South Carolina publications.
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