11/07/2025
When Nicole Bodey was diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer’s disease, she and her husband of 57 years, Bud, faced it together just like they always have. After learning about new treatment options, Nicole became the first patient at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital to receive Kisunla™ (donanemab), an FDA-approved infusion that can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Thanks to the teamwork of WashU Medicine memory care experts at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and the team at MoBap Sullivan, Nicole’s treatment is now available closer to home, turning what used to be a five-hour round trip to St. Louis into a two-hour “date day.”
Nicole’s neurologist, Dr. Nupur Ghoshal of WashU Medicine, said early diagnosis and treatment make a big difference. “If you have concerns about memory, bring it to the attention of your primary care doctor,” Dr. Ghoshal shared.
Six months into her monthly infusions, Nicole’s cognition has held steady, a promising sign for a disease that typically progresses over time. She still exercises, cooks, drives familiar routes, and spends time with her five grandchildren.
“The way I see it is, maybe it helps me,” Nicole said. “And maybe it will help somebody else in the future.”
Lisa Lochner, president of Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital, said this collaboration is “a great example of what’s possible when we work together across BJC HealthCare and WashU Medicine.”
Learn more about Nicole’s story: https://heyor.ca/Ih5uMZ
