Primary Care Guiding Two Generations

All her life, Sandra saw her mother, Mary, as her north star.  

Calmness and kindness were values Mary imparted onto Sandra and her sister. When she wasn’t raising her girls, being a devoted grandmother, or remaining active in her church parish, Mary was a St. Louis County schoolteacher and a guiding light for thousands of children over the course of her career.

Sandra called Mary her “heart,” and there was nothing Sandra wouldn’t do for her. So when Sandra saw little things fall through the cracks for Mary—missed bills, memory lapses, and misdirection behind the wheel—Sandra became more involved in her mother’s day-to-day life.  

Soon, Sandra was an in-home caregiver to her mother. Mary’s headaches were turning into hallucinations, leading to stress and sadness for both mother and daughter. Mary never wanted to be a burden to her girls, but her health was becoming more and more worrisome to Sandra.  

Eventually, the stress and sadness of witnessing her mother’s decline became too much. After some debate, Sandra convinced Mary to go see her long-time primary care provider, Gena Napier, MD, at Family Care at Christian Hospital.  

With Dr. Napier, Mary and Sandra got more than great care. They got a present, understanding, and supportive primary care provider whom they both trusted.  

“My mother raised us to be extremely compassionate and respectful, and those were the feelings I got from Dr. Napier,” Sandra says.

Reaching out for help

Dr. Napier’s words to Mary still echo in Sandra’s head years later.  

“Mary, I wish you’d come to see me sooner,” Sandra remembers Dr. Napier saying.  

Mary had dealt with headaches and pain her whole life, so she put off seeing Dr. Napier, even as her issues escalated. But when Sandra finally got Mary in to see Dr. Napier, what put her most at ease was the tone she took—Dr. Napier was even-keeled, professional, and empathetic.  

“She wasn’t angry with her or anything, she just wished she would’ve come to see her so she could talk her through everything,” Sandra says.

After seeing Mary, Dr. Napier worked to better understand her condition. Primary care providers are an important piece of every patient’s health care because they assess physical, emotional, and mental needs. From minor issues to chronic conditions like Mary’s, providers are partners in care for patients and their families.

A true health care ally

Dr. Napier referred Mary to a neurologist for a standard cognitive exam to assess her memory loss issues. Mary took the test twice, and both instances were an emotional and traumatic experience for mother and daughter.  

“The standard test they give everyone is to state your name, date of birth, and address, and she couldn’t do it,” Sandra remembers. “I could see the tears in her eyes, and she looked so defeated. It broke my heart.”

Mary was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, a progressive brain disorder that severely alters peoples’ personalities, behavior, and speech. Through what Sandra described as “one of the hardest chapters of her life,” Dr. Napier remained a stable resource and ally for the family at every level.  

As Mary’s dementia worsened, Dr. Napier leaned on BJC’s specialist network to support Mary’s physical and emotional well-being. When Mary pled with Sandra to take her home during her inpatient stay at Parkland Health Center, Dr. Napier helped Sandra coordinate with BJC Home Care to get in-home support for her mother.

And even when Sandra needed someone to talk her through her mother’s struggles, Dr. Napier was there. Whether during typical business hours or late at night, Sandra knew she could reach out to Dr. Napier or a member of her team for answers and a supportive ear.  

“We talked every other week about something new concerning my mother,” Sandra says. “We tried so many different approaches, and through it all, she never once lost her empathy for what my mother—or I—were going through.” 

Making a change

The compassion Mary received at every touchpoint resonated with Sandra. While caring for her mother, Sandra also strived to maintain her own health, all while giving every ounce of herself at home and at work.  

Sandra didn’t have a primary care provider when she first started caring for Mary, but Dr. Napier’s empathy inspired Sandra to trust her with her care. Although Sandra, 59, was technically a new patient, Dr. Napier knew she was juggling a lot between work and being a caregiver.  

“When Sandra first came in, my priority was to listen because she had been carrying the emotional and physical weight of being a caregiver for a long time, and that kind of stress has real health consequences,” Dr. Napier says. “Caregivers often put their own health last, and part of my role as a primary care physician is to make sure they feel seen, supported, and empowered to take care of themselves, too.”

Throughout her time as her provider, Dr. Napier has continued providing collaborative, compassionate, and steady care to Sandra. As a woman in a similar stage of life, Dr. Napier became an incredible resource for Sandra, who was starting to experience hormonal changes associated with aging.  

“Having already walked alongside Sandra during her mother’s illness helped me create an immediate foundation of trust with her,” Dr. Napier says. “I already understood her family, her responsibilities, and the grief she had experienced, and that continuity allowed us to focus on her health in a way that felt collaborative and supportive from the very beginning.”

While working with Dr. Napier, Sandra was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal condition that causes irregular menstrual cycles, hair loss, acne, weight gain, and blood sugar issues like prediabetes—which Sandra was also diagnosed with.

The hormone and cosmetic changes worried Sandra, but Dr. Napier listened to Sandra’s concerns, then talked her through the diagnoses and options.  

“I wanted to understand what all this would look like, and what I liked about Dr. Napier is that she’s in a similar age group and she understood what I was asking and trying to say,” Sandra says.  

Losing both her mother and father and being under Dr. Napier’s care has helped Sandra renew her focus on her health. Per Dr. Napier’s request, Sandra gets blood analysis done every six months to make sure her levels stay steady, plus she’s made some nutrition- and exercise-related lifestyle changes to aid her health.  

Right now, Sandra says she’s taking her health a day at a time and giving herself grace. From the care her mother received to the treatment she gets now, Sandra appreciates the support and guidance she’s gotten from Dr. Napier.  

“I love that Dr. Napier is very attentive and quick to respond to with her analysis of my test results. She knows me well and understands my sense of urgency when it comes to my health,” Sandra says. 

BJC Medical Group primary care providers are your go-to source for many health issues, from minor injuries and ailments to chronic conditions. Browse our providers and specialists  to find a trusted ally who will help you achieve healthy outcomes.