Ansley Crook

Jeshua’s Health Update Hey everyone, I wanted to share an update on Jeshua and also be completely transparent about where our family currently stands. Jeshua is beginning palliative care this week to help manage his symptoms, keep him comfortable, and focus on his quality of life. While Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) symptoms can improve or be managed with treatment for some people, the primary condition we are concerned about right now is Rapidly Progressive Dementia (RPD), which has caused significant cognitive and memory decline. We are continuing to take things one day at a time, focusing on his comfort, quality of life, and making as many meaningful memories together as we can. Visitors are still welcome, but we ask that everyone please reach out to me before coming by. Jeshua can become overwhelmed or agitated quickly, and overheating can make things harder for him, so we just need to make sure it is a good time before anyone visits. A Little Financial Transparency I also want to be completely transparent with everyone who has donated, shared our GoFundMe, prayed for us, or is considering helping our family. The money we have already received through GoFundMe went toward getting us caught up on multiple months of past-due bills, which was a huge blessing to our family. Some of those bills had fallen behind as Jeshua’s memory and cognitive problems became worse. We have also received some good news. Jeshua’s Social Security disability benefits have been reinstated. We were told it may take approximately 2–4 weeks for the payments to begin again, although it could take longer depending on Social Security’s processing time. We currently receive housing assistance, and as of right now our rent is being covered. Our family also receives EBT/SNAP assistance to help with eligible groceries. I’m sharing this because if you are giving your hard-earned money to help our family, I want you to know what assistance we already receive, what is already being taken care of, and where we still need help. I never want anyone who supports us to wonder where their help is going. Our remaining monthly expenses include our light bill, water bill, phone bill, internet bill, transportation, household supplies, laundry detergent, toiletries, clothing and necessities for the kids, things Jeshua needs for his care and comfort, and other basic day-to-day living expenses. We are also currently without a vehicle after voluntarily returning ours a few weeks ago. Until we are able to get another reliable vehicle, we have transportation expenses for Jeshua’s medical appointments and our family’s everyday needs. Right now, the GoFundMe is helping us bridge the gap while we wait for Jeshua’s disability payments to actually begin coming in and helping us cover the expenses and necessities that remain our responsibility. As our situation changes, especially once his disability payments begin coming in, I will continue updating everyone. I want the people helping our family to always know where things stand and where their support is going. Things Jeshua and Our Family Can Use Above everything else, we ask for prayer, peace, patience, and understanding. Please continue praying for Jeshua, our children, and our family as we navigate everything one day at a time. For anyone who would rather help with items instead of donating money, we can currently use Ensure for days when Jeshua’s appetite is low, bottled water, coloring books, notepads, colored pencils and simple activities to keep his mind engaged, laundry detergent, household cleaning supplies, toiletries, paper towels, toilet paper, comfortable clothing and socks for Jeshua, clothing and everyday necessities for the kids, and home-cooked meals or help with meals. You can always reach out to me to see what our family needs most at the time. Helping with an item or meal is just as appreciated as making a financial donation. Follow Jeshua’s Journey We have now created Jeshua’s Journey pages on Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. We’ll continue using them to share Jeshua’s story, the good days and the hard days, and to spread awareness. Facebook: facebook.com/jeshuasjourney TikTok: @jeshuasjourney YouTube: @jeshuasjourney More than anything, please continue keeping Jeshua and our family in your prayers. Whether you donate, send a meal, help with household necessities, share Jeshua’s story, send an encouraging message, follow his pages, or simply pray for us, we truly appreciate it. The love and support being poured into our family has helped more than people probably realize. God has continued to carry us through all of this, and we are taking it one day at a time. Thank y’all for continuing to walk alongside our family.

To our family and friends: We want to apologize for not letting everyone know sooner about Jeshua’s personal decision. Between managing his care and appointments, it completely slipped our minds. Early on, Jeshua made the choice to permanently delete his social media (Facebook, his old TikTok, etc.) and disconnect his phone line until he gets better. He reactivated his Facebook and TikTok briefly just to connect people with me, but he has deleted those accounts permanently to step away from the noise. He wants to focus entirely on his health, spending time with our family, trusting in God’s plan, seeking what’s next, and just trying to live. From Jeshua: "If you haven't heard from me, please know I haven't blocked anyone. This was entirely my decision—Ansley is my wife and my rock, taking care of everything behind the scenes so I can focus on healing. For the last six months or so, I’ve had a really hard time focusing on social media, watching TV, or even listening to music—and as much as music is my passion, my brain and body just need quiet right now. In fact, when I was first diagnosed, I recorded a video explaining why I was letting my phone go, which you can just ask her for, because this is what I asked her whenever this first started going on, just in case. My full-time job right now is healing and resting. Even though I’m at home, I am busy with doctor visits, therapies, and getting the rest my body needs. If you want to check in, you can reach out through Ansley. If I'm up for talking and not resting, I’d love to connect, but please understand if we can't answer calls right away—I need my rest, and honestly, so does my wife.” P.S. On a sweet note for anyone wondering, he has had a good day today! Wanted to share a little positivity and blessing with you all. We are so grateful for everyone who has reached out, brought food, shared our posts, or stopped by. No matter where we are in connecting with you—whether it's been a while or we haven't caught up at all—if we seem hard to reach, it’s only so Jeshua can get the rest he needs. We deeply appreciate your grace, prayers, and understanding as we walk through this journey in faith.

Jeshua’s Weekly Update Moving forward, we will only post updates once a week. Jeshua is navigating a very severe medical battle right now, and he needs my full-time care and attention. The only exception is if an urgent medical event happens (like a hospital admission or care plan change). (Note: We know this is a long post, but if you care about Jeshua and our family, please read it through. We cannot condense these updates into short messages right now, and we want to be 100% transparent about both his health and our finances.) The Plain Facts About Jeshua’s Health We are no longer sugarcoating anything. Here is the reality of what we are facing every single day, while standing firm in our faith that God holds Jeshua in His hands: * Why Is This Happening at Age 33? Subtle symptoms began 10–15 years ago, but things escalated a year ago. For nearly a decade, Jeshua worked as a DJ, drinking heavy amounts of energy drinks (like Red Bulls) and alcohol. About a year ago, when he was baptized, he quit drinking completely. Medically, stopping alcohol suddenly after long-term use alters brain chemistry. It specifically affects the thalamus (the brain's central control station for signals). Because Jeshua had an underlying Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)—which he did not know he had and was only officially diagnosed with last month—this sudden shift overwhelmed his brain, triggering Rapidly Progressive Dementia (RPD) and causing a severe health crisis. * It Is NOT Classic Alzheimer’s: Jeshua has Rapidly Progressive Dementia (RPD) alongside Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and Asperger's. RPD causes fast, sudden shifts. This is why he can be clear and lucid one minute, and completely confused or exhausted the next. * Seeing Him in Public: Having Asperger's gives Jeshua a very high pain tolerance, so if he isn't in an active flare-up, he may look fine to you. He can still hold conversations even though his memory comes and goes. Fun fact: Sometimes he will tell someone in public that he remembers them, and then whisper to me after they leave that he didn't remember them at all—he just didn't want to hurt their feelings! His heart is as compassionate as ever. * Steroid Complications & Sundowning: A few weeks ago, Jeshua had severe agitation, frustration, and wandering. We learned the hospital steroids caused this—steroids can induce severe confusion and mania in dementia patients. Now that the steroids are gone, the agitation has stopped, but he still experiences deep fatigue and sundowning as his dementia advances. * FND vs. Progressive Dementia: Managing stress helps calm his FND flare-ups, but it does not stop his Rapidly Progressive Dementia. RPD is a continuous neurodegenerative condition. Even if his FND is stable, his brain is still declining. We are also waiting on spinal tap results to check for other conditions like MS, Parkinson's, or Huntington's. * Why "Just Fighting It" Doesn't Work: Asperger's acts like a match to a flame—it amplifies physical pain and stress in his body. People say "he just needs to fight it," but doctors explicitly warned us that forcing himself to push through is making him worse. Pushing through stress overloads his nervous system and causes severe crashes. Resting is medically his best chance at stability. * Recent Hospital Visit (PVCs): Jeshua returned to the hospital recently for severe heart PVCs triggered by stress and a respiratory infection. While there was no permanent heart damage, the chest pain was 100% real to him. Thankfully, his lungs are clear now! * Home Health & Hospice Timeline: Insurance approved 8 weeks of home health through SAADS Healthcare. If he does not show measurable progress in the next 4–5 weeks, insurance may stop coverage. If progress stalls, we will have to evaluate moving from home health to hospice care. * Why He Is Home Right Now: Because of his young age, doctors are giving him a true fighting chance at home. If he were older with this level of decline, he would have gone straight into hospice. We are claiming his healing in Jesus' name! * New Rules & Strict Rest: Per his care team, Jeshua can no longer go to big events or gatherings. We tried taking him to church, but his nervous system flared up badly afterward. He falls asleep randomly and deals with sleep paralysis/narcolepsy-like symptoms as his body tries to save energy. * Diet & Weight Loss: Jeshua still eats and has an appetite at times, but his natural hunger and thirst cues are becoming much less reliable. Even though he eats every day and snacks throughout the day, he has still been losing weight since leaving the hospital because his body and nervous system are burning calories at a very high rate. To keep his weight up and support his energy, we are keeping quick high-protein snacks and Ensure drinks on hand for the times his appetite drops or he isn't able to eat a full meal. Boundaries & Transparency * Please Educate Yourself: Check out fndhope.org to learn about Functional Neurological Disorder. We do not have the time or energy to explain complex medical terms to everyone individually right now. * Full Transparency: GoFundMe guidelines recommend full openness. If you have donated or plan to donate and have questions, inbox us directly for documentation. Vehicle Status We voluntarily surrendered our car to Little’s Auto Sales. The dealership was wonderful and understanding. Over the last year, Jeshua’s cognitive decline caused him to forget to pay bills, and with no current income, keeping up with payments was impossible. We are managing rides to his appointments and trusting God’s timing to focus entirely on his care. Later, we will look into a reliable cash car or getting our vehicle back from Little’s. ⚖️ Social Security Disability Jeshua’s Social Security disability benefits are currently suspended (not terminated) because he previously tried to return to work. Our attorney is handling the extensive paperwork to get them reinstated, but it takes time. How You Can Support Our Family If you cannot give financially, please share our link! That helps us immensely. If you would like to help directly, we are accepting support through: (Venmo and Chime available upon request) * Food & Meals: Home-cooked meals, groceries, or Ensure drinks. * Past-Due Bills: Assistance with past-due power, water, and rent. Jeshua can be hardheaded, but he is my best friend and the love of my life. We are navigating this step-by-step together. Thank you for your endless prayers and love! In Jesus' name, Amen. #TeamJeshua #FunctionalNeurologicalDisorder #FND #FNDAwareness #RapidlyProgressiveDementia #RPD #AutismAwareness #AdultAutism

⁠Fun Fact: Even when his legs are acting shaky and won't let him walk straight, his brain can still access the automatic pathway that lets him run! His medical team explained that while FND isn't a simple hereditary condition, Jeshua has had rare biological and nervous system vulnerabilities since early infancy. Over time, those early underlying traits developed into his FND diagnosis. Neuroscience is wild, but with therapy, he's learning how to retrain those brain pathways and cope with it every step of the way! Functional Neurological Disorder: https://fndhope.org/ #TeamJeshua #FNDAwareness #FunctionalNeurologicalDisorder #CommunitySupport⁠