BJC HealthCare

The World Cup is coming to Missouri, and we couldn't be more excited! ⚽ 🏆

Meet Gabby, PT, DPT, SCS, a physical therapist and rehab specialist at the Young Athlete Center at St. Louis Children's Hospital Specialty Care Center, as well as a former soccer player.

“My own journey in physical therapy throughout my high school and college soccer careers, for various injuries, inspired me to pursue a career in PT,” Gabby said. “I have always had a love of working with children as well as a love for sports, and my dream was to be able to combine my passion for both into a career.”

Today, that experience helps her connect with young athletes as they work toward recovery and a return to the sports they love.

“Recovery is even greater than just returning to the field,” she said. “It is also about helping them trust their bodies and regain their identity.”

Gabby is passionate about providing evidence-based care rooted in genuine connection and helping every patient feel seen, heard, and supported. Whether she’s helping an athlete return to soccer, guiding a family through an injury, or mentoring future clinicians, Gabby is motivated by the opportunity to make a lasting impact through movement, education, and encouragement.

Many of the lessons she learned through soccer continue to shape her approach to patient care.

“Soccer has taught me that progress truly comes from consistency, teamwork, resilience, grit, and trusting the process,” she said.

As excitement builds for the World Cup’s arrival in North America, Gabby is looking forward to seeing the game inspire the next generation.

“The World Cup is a huge opportunity to grow the game here and inspire the next generation of soccer players," she said. "Including the young athletes I get to work with every day.”

⚽ The World Cup is coming to Missouri, and BJC HealthCare is joining the excitement with watch parties and community events across St. Louis! ✨

Join us at these upcoming watch parties:

📍 Friday, June 12
USA vs. Paraguay
5–10:30 p.m. | Lou Fusz Plaza at Energizer Park
8:00 p.m. | The Hub in Chesterfield

📍Saturday, July 11
Quarterfinals
7:30 p.m. The Hub in Chesterfield

📍 Sunday, July 19
World Cup Final Watch Party
2:00 p.m. | The Hub in Chesterfield

We look forward to celebrating with our communities throughout the tournament and hope to see you at some (or all) of these events! 👀 🤩

Jodi's leg was amputated after a severe bone infection—so why was her missing leg still causing her pain?

"It felt like bolts of lightning shooting through my leg," Jodi says. "It would wake me up throughout the night. I was only getting about four hours of sleep, and I was exhausted."

Jodi was experiencing phantom limb pain, a condition where pain or other sensations occur in a limb that's no longer there.

The pain made everyday activities unpredictable—especially driving. The shocks could hit at any moment, making it hard to feel in control behind the wheel.

Jodi lives in a small town north of Hannibal, Missouri. After her amputation, she tried several treatments closer to home in hopes of finding relief. One option was targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR), a surgical procedure that can help reduce nerve pain in some amputees. But for Jodi, the phantom limb pain persisted.

Her orthopedic surgeon referred her to Alexander Chamessian, MD, a WashU Medicine pain management specialist who sees patients at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital.

Dr. Chamessian introduced Jodi to another option: spinal cord stimulation.

"Many amputees don't realize there are effective treatments available for phantom limb pain," Dr. Chamessian explains. "Spinal cord stimulation can significantly reduce pain and help patients return to normal activities."

The therapy uses a small device to send mild electrical signals to the spinal cord—interrupting pain signals before they reach the brain.

For Jodi, the first step was a one-week trial with the device. Thin wires were placed near her spinal cord and connected to a battery worn outside her body to see if the treatment would meaningfully reduce her pain.

"The difference was almost immediate," Jodi shares. "For the first time in a long time, I slept six to eight hours a night."

Because the trial was so successful, Jodi moved forward with a permanent spinal cord stimulator during an outpatient procedure at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital. The implanted battery lasts up to 10 years—offering long-term relief without the frequent maintenance required by some other pain management treatments.

Jodi says her phantom limb pain is now about 95% gone, and she's gotten something back she thought she had lost—her independence.

"Dr. Chamessian was phenomenal," Jodi says. "He listened to me, answered my questions, and was incredibly understanding. Everyone took exceptional care of me."

Read Jodi's full story to learn how she regained her independence with spinal cord stimulation: https://heyor.ca/AF4Ewx

Team BJC was proud to "walk the walk" in support of American Heart Association this past weekend. ❤️👟

Members from across BJC Health showed up to celebrate survivors of heart disease and stroke, and raise money for lifesaving research.

It's an honor to be able to show up for the health of our communities in our hospitals and beyond.