Leqembi Lovebirds

For ten years, Robert and Sheryl have built a retirement filled with family, travel, and time well spent together. They never imagined that one of the things they would share would be a diagnosis of early Alzheimer’s disease. Yet, in true partnership fashion, they’ve chosen to face it side by side — even turning treatment days into what they lovingly call their “double dates.”

Bob’s diagnosis came first. Thanks to a proactive physician who routinely screened his patients for cognitive changes with the MOCA screening tool, Bob was identified in the early stages of Alzheimer’s — long before either he or Sheryl suspected anything was wrong. They are deeply grateful for a doctor who believed in early detection and took action ordering follow up testing confirming his diagnosis. “We had no idea,” Robert recalls. He has been on treatment with Leqembi for just over a year now, when further evaluation revealed that Sheryl, too, was in the earliest stages of the disease.

After Sheryl’s diagnosis, Bob and Sheryl decided they wanted to attend their Leqembi infusion appointments together. This year they began treatment with Leqembi side by side in the Sage Sarasota office. Leqembi is an FDA- approved therapy designed to slow the progression of early Alzheimer’s disease.

Coordinating back- to- back infusions isn’t always easy. Between their medical appointments and their weekly commitment to caring for Sheryl’s grandchildren, their schedule is full. The couple states that Sage Infusion has been wonderful in trying to accommodate their schedule so they can be infused at the same time, though with two treatment plans and busy calendars, it doesn’t always line up perfectly. When it does, they settle into their chairs side by side, joking with nurses and calling it their “double date.”

The staff at the Sarasota office has made all the difference. Bob and Sheryl describe them as “terrific” — warm, organized, and genuinely invested in their well- being. The nurses take time to answer questions, explain each step, and make sure they are comfortable throughout the infusion process.

Despite the demands of treatment, Bob and Sheryl refuse to let Alzheimer’s define their retirement. Their weeks are busy — balancing appointments, infusion days, and treasured time with their grandchildren. In between it all, they continue to travel, exploring new places and visiting family in other states such as their most recent trip to Rhode Island. Treatment days are simply part of their rhythm now — something they manage together so they can focus on living fully in between.

Their journey hasn’t been what they expected, but it has reinforced the strength of their partnership. Seven years into marriage, they are facing one of life’s greatest challenges hand in hand — grateful for early diagnosis, innovative treatment, and a care team that supports them every step of the way. And whenever possible, they’ll keep scheduling those double dates.