New ALS Fund Artwork by Gary Crook | artist:"Art Therapy Number 23," dated 2014

New ALS Fund Artwork by Gary Crook | artist:"Art Therapy Number 23," dated 2014

Mixed  Media on Canvas

Help contribute to Gary Crook's ALS Fund by buying his artwork on prints and merchandise.  Check out his latest artwork.

* The “Art Therapy” series was started in late summer 2013 when Gary Crook was initially misdiagnosed for depression and/or tension (it later turned out to be ALS).  Needless to say Gary did NOT do well on the five different anti-depressants that he was prescribed in the four months he was on the anti-depressant medications.  This series was an attempt to mitigate the medications side effects.

The concept was simple, create artwork steadily for one hour and at the end of one hour, what was done was done…

The series ran until early spring 2014.

Gary was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig Disease) on 12/20/2013.  Gary started noticing the first signs of ALS in the Spring of 2013, but we didn't know what was going on until just before the Holidays when he got his diagnosis.  He has always been a healthy man with a lot to offer the artist community.  He has influenced several aspiring artists over the years teaching at various colleges and schools and leaving his mark with inspiration of design.  A mark that seemed to last forever-he still communicates with a few of his students from art classes he taught as early as 1997.

He has touched so many people and he was always the guy to help others, but now he is the one needing help--which is hard for him to accept because he still sees himself as the big, strong man.

He is also a great husband and father. Gary choose a life where he could work from home since Karen is an Air Force Veteran and to spend more time with his family. He has been married for 18 years to his wife where they strive to keep a tight knit family and running a small gift store, Lexie's Trading Post where they sold there own Family Skin Care Line, Lexie's of Louisville and where the kids are often seen in the day to day operations. They, the kids- Dylan and Jordan- Love working our quarterly charity drives dedicated to the likes of animal rescues, to food drives for the local food pantry, to free outdoor cinema family night's to their local community.

Since Gary has ALWAYS been an artist, he is attempting to create art for as long as he still can. It is becoming increasingly difficult to control his hands, but this latest attempt is another victory and a further attempt to help his wife in supporting his family since he cannot teach anymore.

Thank You for your time reading about Gary and your consideration and possible donation. Any donation will be greatly appreciated. 

If you'd like to donate directly to Gary Crook's ALS Fund, please go to: http://www.gofundme.com/60j52k

* Also, if you'd like to visit Gary Crook | artist's Official Web Page, where there are 20+ years of artwork and writings, check: http://garycrookartist.com 

"Art Therapy Number 24: the Artist Fighting the Ravages of ALS" by Gary Crook | artist, dated 2014

"Art Therapy Number 24: the Artist Fighting the Ravages of ALS" by Gary Crook | artist, dated 2014

Digital X-Ray print of paper

Help contribute to Gary Crook’s ALS Fund by buying his artwork on prints and merchandise.  Check out his latest artwork.

* The “Art Therapy” series was started in late summer 2013 when Gary Crook was initially misdiagnosed for depression and/or tension (it later turned out to be ALS).  Needless to say Gary did NOT do well on the five different anti-depressants that he was prescribed in the four months he was on the anti-depressant medications.  This series was an attempt to mitigate the medications side effects.

The concept was simple, create artwork steadily for one hour and at the end of one hour, what was done was done…

The series ran until early spring 2014.




Help contribute to Gary Crook's ALS fund by buying his artwork on prints and merchandise. Check out his latest artwork.

> If you’d like to donate directly to Gary Crook’s ALS Fund, please go to: www.gofundme.com/60j52k

Gary Crook | artist ALS Fund Life Factoid: I still can’t believe that I (Me!) am the sick person in the room!

The adult Crook's - dated 2011

Gary Crook | artist ALS Fund Life Factoid: I still can’t believe that I (Me!) am the sick person in the room!

My youngest sister just left from a two day visit (BTW there are five of us kids, three girls and two boys - I’m the middle child!…=0).  She traveled all the way from New Jersey with her husband Kevin and their 13 month old daughter Bella. I thank them sincerely for taking the time and effort, but alas I am not good company anymore.  No one can understand me now when I talk - so the conservations are VERY one-sided, I tire very easily and take naps often, and make everyone leave the room when I pee (now I pee in a “urinal” while sitting in my levitating Lay-Z-Boy).  Plus, I keep the house freezing cold because the hot flashes have returned with a vengeance…

Anyway, the time invariably comes for us (whether visiting family or friends) to all say our tearful goodbyes - not knowing if this will really be the last one, and I can’t escape the thought: “I still can’t believe that I (Me!) am the sick person in the room!”

And it’s been that way since my diagnosis.  Don’t get me wrong, I know I have ALS and it’s actually killing me - I’m not kidding myself about that anymore, I’ve definitely hit the Step 5 stage in the The 5 Stages of Loss and Grief: Acceptance.  

But so many times have I been on the other side of the walker, so to speak, and offering MY help, MY condolences and MY thoughts and prayers to the sick person in the room.  Now I’M the sick person in the room and it’s a surreal and emotionally painful experience, to say the least...

I mean this just does not happen to me (besides the occasional cold/flu), I’ve never been “sick” a day in my life - I’m not used to these visits being directed to me. I still can’t believe that I (Me!) am the sick person in the room!  

My disbelief at this reversal, at times, STILL surprises even me - and I'm living it everyday...

~ Gary Crook | artist, Louisville, Kentucky 2014

> If you’d like to donate directly to Gary Crook’s ALS Fund, please go to: http://www.gofundme.com/60j52k

Gary Crook | artist ALS Fund Life Factoid: In my Traditional Schooling years, I went to TWO different Elementary Schools, THREE different Middle Schools (I failed 7th grade and had to repeat it), and THREE different High Schools

The Crook children: Jordan Dylan and Malcolm - FirstDay School 2010

Gary Crook | artist ALS Fund Life Factoid: In my Traditional Schooling years, I went to TWO different Elementary Schools, THREE different Middle Schools (I failed 7th grade and had to repeat it), and THREE different High Schools 

- some in different parts of the same city, some in different states, and some in different countries (Germany, my adopted father was a career fighter pilot in the Air Force), some by choice and some not.  

I obviously had a very difficult time in traditional school, in fact, I hated it!  School, to me during that time, was a gut wrenching, nerve wracking, soul crushing yearly endeavor which consisted of endless Parent Teacher “Strategy Sessions” designed to “Motivate Gary,” nightly battles and screaming matches with the parents about homework, Lying, Referrals and inevitably long-term groundings...  

And I’ll be Damned if I didn’t repeat the EXACT SAME behavior with my own school aged children!...  =0(

Now I look back with the clock ticking on my earthly existence, and as a parent myself now, and ask: “How did our culture LET our education system into our homes on such a personal level?  How (and Why) did the act of learning get so ugly?  WHEN did we give this bureaucratic entity sooooooooooo much control over our familial tranquility?”

I did end up graduating in what could best be described as night school/correspondence high school, and eventually found myself receiving my bachelor’s and eventually master’s degrees - MUCH to my parent’s utter befuddlement!... =0)

Anyway, the moral of this story is this: humans cannot be forced-fed ANYTHING!, and that includes education and/or motivation - I did not get interested in school until college when it became interesting to ME! - it’s simply not worth the nightly battles with your loved one’s (and this is coming from a former college professor!).

So be good to those underage students who live under your roof, and DON’T let some random teacher and/or some bureaucratic entity sooooooooooo much control over your familial tranquility - DON’T be afraid to Push Back a little when you’ve had enough of the berating of your precious children; after all they don’t even know them!

Most importantly, don’t let “school” create an ugly rift in your household, as I now know, Life is indeed Way too Short!

~ Gary Crook | artist, Louisville, Kentucky 2014

>  If you’d like to donate directly to Gary Crook’s ALS Fund, please go to: http://www.gofundme.com/60j52k

New ALS Fund Artwork by Gary Crook | artist: "Art Therapy Number 6" - Dated 2014

New ALS Fund Artwork by Gary Crook | artist: "Art Therapy Number 6" - Dated 2014

Acrylic and Latex on Paper

Help contribute to Gary Crook's ALS Fund by buying his artwork on prints and merchandise.  Check out his latest artwork.

* The “Art Therapy” series was started in late summer 2013 when Gary Crook was initially misdiagnosed for depression and/or tension (it later turned out to be ALS).  Needless to say Gary did NOT do well on the five different anti-depressants that he was prescribed in the four months he was on the anti-depressant medications.  This series was an attempt to mitigate the medications side effects.

The concept was simple, create artwork steadily for one hour and at the end of one hour, what was done was done…

The series ran until early spring 2014.

Gary was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig Disease) on 12/20/2013.  Gary started noticing the first signs of ALS in the Spring of 2013, but we didn't know what was going on until just before the Holidays when he got his diagnosis.  He has always been a healthy man with a lot to offer the artist community.  He has influenced several aspiring artists over the years teaching at various colleges and schools and leaving his mark with inspiration of design.  A mark that seemed to last forever-he still communicates with a few of his students from art classes he taught as early as 1997.

He has touched so many people and he was always the guy to help others, but now he is the one needing help--which is hard for him to accept because he still sees himself as the big, strong man.

He is also a great husband and father. Gary choose a life where he could work from home since Karen is an Air Force Veteran and to spend more time with his family. He has been married for 18 years to his wife where they strive to keep a tight knit family and running a small gift store, Lexie's Trading Post where they sold there own Family Skin Care Line, Lexie's of Louisville and where the kids are often seen in the day to day operations. The, the kids- Dylan and Jordan- Love working our quarterly charity drives dedicated to the likes of animal rescues, to food drives for the local food pantry, to free outdoor cinema family night's to their local community.

Since Gary has ALWAYS been an artist, he is attempting to create art for as long as he still can. It is becoming increasingly difficult to control his hands, but this latest attempt is another victory and a further attempt to help his wife in supporting his family since he cannot teach anymore.

Thank You for your time reading about Gary and your consideration and possible donation. Any donation will be greatly appreciated. 

If you'd like to donate directly to Gary Crook's ALS Fund, please go to: http://www.gofundme.com/60j52k

* Also, if you'd like to visit Gary Crook | artist's Official Web Page, where there are 20+ years of artwork and writings, check: http://garycrookartist.com 

Gary Crook | artist ALS Fund Life Factoid: Here are the shirts for this years ALS Walk. Gary's Team is called Gary Crook | Fighting Artist.

Gary Crook | artist ALS Fund Life Factoid: Here are the shirts for this years ALS Walk. Gary's Team is called Gary Crook | Fighting Artist.

Karen and the kids will be doing it so if anyone wants to join them you are more than welcome, it’s only a mile :0)

General info: 

Louisville ALS Walk ~ Saturday | May 10, 2014

• WALK CHECK-IN: 8:30 AM
• WALK STARTS: 10:00 AM
• LOCATION: PAPA JOHN'S CORPORATE CAMPUS
• DISTANCE: 1 MILE

The Spring Walks are gaining momentum and everyone is getting their teams registered to Walk in Louisville or NKY this May! Way to go Lisa Crain, Tynia Nichols, Jessica Higdon, Nathan Eten,Frances and Joe Wise, Deroy Scott, Rob Kester,Michael Deaton, Jami Smith, Serena Combs, Celeste and Dan Harrigan, Laura Thieneman, Diane Scheler, Stacey Wallace, Debbie Higdon, Amber Lancaster, Joe Menez, Janet Rexroat, Francie Ueltschi, Karen Crook, Kristy Perkins,and Dana Smith Boggs

Haven't registered yourself or your team yet? 

Click on your Walk link below and register today and get ready to Walk to Defeat ALS!

• web: http://alsa.org/Louisville
• web: http://alsa.org/NKY

~ Gary Crook | artist, Louisville, Kentucky 2014

> If you’d like to donate directly to Gary Crook’s ALS Fund, please go to: http://www.gofundme.com/60j52k

Gary Crook | artist ALS Fund Life Factoid: "The hardest part of this ALS decline is being around my kids…'

Dylan and Jordan Crook-2007

Gary Crook | artist ALS Fund Life Factoid: "The hardest part of this ALS decline is being around my kids…'

… now let me clarify that statement, having ALS is very difficult in more than one way. There is not shooting pain (at least in me, everyone’s ALS is different) like the ravages of say Bone or Pancreatic Cancer (seriously, I Thank God for that!), but more like the dull aches and all over body pains like you would have with the flu - and because you burn calories like a marathon runner, extreme fatigue. And like the flu, those aches and pains can be controlled in the short-term - not the disease, just the symptoms - with medications.

Problem is when those symptoms are being controlled with medications, you feel fine - like there’s no problem at all. You see that’s the benefit and the curse of the ALS disease, it affects your body and not your mind. I had it described to me like this by Hosparus, the degradation you see on the outside of your body is also happening on the inside… BUT the brain remains untouched, again it’s both a benefit and a curse of the ALS disease…

And when I am sitting on the couch watching the SAME Spongebob I know they’ve seen 14 times (heck, I‘ve even seen it eight!), everything feels like the old days… And if the medications have hit, and i’m sitting on the couch next to Dylan and Jordan, it reminds me of every other time we did this - before the disease. I feel like I could just get up and walk right across the living room, just like every other time...

And that’s the crux of the problem of the hardest part of this ALS decline is being around my kids… When I DO have to get up to go the bathroom, but now with assistance, I’m again reminded that things are not the way they used to be and that my time with these precious angels is VERY limited. I won’t see them grow up, go on their first date, graduate from High School, get married, have grandkids, etc. And THEY won’t have their father there as well… =0(

And THAT’s why the hardest part of this ALS decline is being around my kids. Of course I’ll cherish every remaining minute I have with them, but that doesn’t change the fact I won’t see them grow up. I love them more than life itself, as you do you yours. Let them know that and...

Love them Unconditionally…

~ Gary Crook | artist, Louisville, Kentucky 2014

> If you’d like to donate directly to Gary Crook’s ALS Fund, please go to: http://www.gofundme.com/60j52

New ALS Fund Artwork by Gary Crook | artist: "Heartland" by Gary Crook | artist, dated 2009

New ALS Fund Artwork by Gary Crook | artist: "Heartland" by Gary Crook | artist, dated 2009

Digital Photomanipulation on Paper

Help contribute to Gary Crook's ALS Fund by buying his artwork on prints and merchandise.  Check out his latest artwork.

Gary was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig Disease) on 12/20/2013.  Gary started noticing the first signs of ALS in the Spring of 2013, but we didn't know what was going on until just before the Holidays when he got his diagnosis.  He has always been a healthy man with a lot to offer the artist community.  He has influenced several aspiring artists over the years teaching at various colleges and schools and leaving his mark with inspiration of design.  A mark that seemed to last forever-he still communicates with a few of his students from art classes he taught as early as 1997.

He has touched so many people and he was always the guy to help others, but now he is the one needing help--which is hard for him to accept because he still sees himself as the big, strong man.

He is also a great husband and father. Gary choose a life where he could work from home since Karen is an Air Force Veteran and to spend more time with his family. He has been married for 18 years to his wife where they strive to keep a tight knit family and running a small gift store, Lexie's Trading Post where they sold there own Family Skin Care Line, Lexie's of Louisville and where the kids are often seen in the day to day operations. They, the kids- Dylan and Jordan- Love working our quarterly charity drives dedicated to the likes of animal rescues, to food drives for the local food pantry, to free outdoor cinema family night's to their local community.

Since Gary has ALWAYS been an artist, he is attempting to create art for as long as he still can. It is becoming increasingly difficult to control his hands, but this latest attempt is another victory and a further attempt to help his wife in supporting his family since he cannot teach anymore.

Thank You for your time reading about Gary and your consideration and possible donation. Any donation will be greatly appreciated. 

If you'd like to donate directly to Gary Crook's ALS Fund, please go to: http://www.gofundme.com/60j52k

* Also, if you'd like to visit Gary Crook | artist's Official Web Page, where there are 20+ years of artwork and writings, check: http://garycrookartist.com 

Gary Crook | artist ALS Fund Life Quote: "Your body is only a vehicle, and much like a vehicle get’s old and untrustworthy...’

Gary Crook | artist in Colorado Springs, CO. Easter 2004

Gary Crook | artist ALS Fund Life Quote:

"Your body is only a vehicle, and much like a vehicle get’s old and untrustworthy (and God forbid, sometimes you get a lemon) - you don't trust it the leave town; it might leave you stranded. BUT the person driving the car is forever young in spirit…"


~ Gary Crook | artist, Louisville, Kentucky 2014

> If you’d like to donate directly to Gary Crook’s ALS Fund, please go to: http://www.gofundme.com/60j52k

Gary Crook | artist ALS Fund Life Factoid: "What were my first signs of ALS and when did I start to realize something was wrong?'

The Crook kids, Washington D.C., summer 1981 (Gary, 2nd from left)

Many people have ask me this question, so I decided to tell all. It took me a few days to get this all down but here it finally is:  "What were my first signs of ALS and when did I start to realize something was wrong?'

The last time I felt normal was when we were at General Butler State Park, summer of 2012. After that I was beginning to feel very tired and Karen would make fun of me for falling asleep on the couch after the kids would go to bed. Also, after eating lunch I would get very tired where my head would droop and I needed to take a nap. We chalked it up to working too much since it was the holiday time. Plus, once the New Year started we were busy starting our wholesale line manufacturing and restocking the shelves with products. During that time, the product buckets were starting to get heavy and my back was always hurting from standing all the time.

The next issue was Derby weekend. I was cutting firewood and got overheated and dizzy. Karen made me sit down because she thought I was having a stroke. Soon after my speech was starting to be slurred, especially my “s” and my vision was getting blurry. We joked about turning 44 and needing reading glasses. 

Another significant date was June 24th when Jordan threw out the first ball at the Bats game. During the game there was a line drive that came into the stands and I had to duck to get out of the way.  In doing so, my arm gave out making my roll out of my chair and onto the steps. I remember thinking at that time that was very odd. June was also the last month I completed a painting. It was getting difficult to control a paintbrush so I started painting abstractly for art therapy. 

Next, was July 4th and I started getting very nervous and startled a lot. It was during this time our family doctor started treating me for anxiety and depression, because I was jumpy and was having emotional mood swings-extreme laughing and crying all at the same time. It was getting so bad that customers coming into the store would startle me all the time to the point I would throw my tea or whatever I was holding up into the air (or all over the wall). At this time, I starting choking on beverages and even gagging just brushing my teeth.

Then in August I noticed my walk was feeling weird and my legs were killing me all the time-like I just worked out all day and it was the following day where your muscles are sore from all that lactic acid build up, but I wasn’t working out and it was every day that my legs were feeling like this. I started icing and heating my legs thinking they were sore because my legs were working all the time from twitching. Karen says it was like seeing an alien under my skin-and it felt like I wanted to jump out of my skin, but my muscles would roll and twitch all the time. Also, it was in August that I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror and looking at myself I felt that something was up- I knew something was wrong at that very instance.

By October all hell started breaking loose. I was driving to the store to pick up a cake for Karen’s birthday and I remember it was getting difficult to drive: controlling the pedals and was hard getting in and out of the car, it was even hard getting my wallet out of my back pocket to pay. By the end of the month I stopped working the store (October 26th to be exact) and Karen took away my driving privileges, which I did not see it as a bad thing. I knew I needed to stop driving...

Thanksgiving was spent at my sister's house and one of the nephews asked Karen is Uncle Gary was Ok, so others were seeing a difference. Just two weeks later, I needed help walking and Karen took me to the doctor for a sore back—I had pulled it three times in one week and she was hoping for a cortisone shot, but it was here that everything came to light. We didn’t see our normal doctor that day, but we saw the nurse practitioner. She got the ball rolling and instructed us exactly what to do that night after the first MRI came back negative for a brain tumor. She had even tried to get us an appointment at a neurologist, but couldn’t with it being the week before Christmas. So Karen took me to the ER and said what we were supposed to say to get me to see a neurologist - I was admitted that afternoon. The next day I was diagnosed with ALS - Karen and I were floored! - a day I will not forget, December 20, 2013. That day that changed my life. 

You pretty much know the details after this because soon after Karen started the Gary’s Progress page.

Note to carry forward: If you know something is wrong, keep asking and get another opinion - go with your gut. We went through three doctors and no one saw anything until we saw someone that recognized the symptoms for what they were. After the diagnosis Karen talked to that NP and her first thought was ALS after just seeing me walk down the hall and 5 minutes in the exam room. Keep going until you get an answer.

~ Gary Crook | artist, Louisville, Kentucky 2014

> If you’d like to donate directly to Gary Crook’s ALS Fund, please go to: http://www.gofundme.com/60j52k

Gary Crook | artist ALS Fund Information: I wanted to share a very well written article from an author who has ALS.

The author of this article is very descriptive on what everyone with ALS is going through and the difficulties of giving into this disease - and how there are  so many people out there that are trying to help. They want to help you and how difficult it is to accept the help, but you don't have a choice, you have to accept the help.

Gary Crook | artist ALS Fund Information:  I wanted to share a very well written article from an author who has ALS.

------------

What We Gain by Giving Up

Smolev, Richard

Like most people with a neurologic condition, I have fought like hell to preserve my independence. Whatever was on the table for discussion, I resisted: giving up my car keys; trading my cane for my walker or my walker for my power chair; and accepting the fact that I needed men and women from my hospice and home health service to bathe me, help me get in and out of bed, or dress me.

At each step of the way, I was told to give up the fight, to buy into the idea that the men and women entering my life were there both to protect my safety and to help me preserve what energy I had to allow me to pursue whatever interested me—which is still independence, but of a different kind. It took me two years after my diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease) in October 2011 to realize that the medical professionals were correct and that I needed to tell my ego to stand in the corner while I adapted to the new normal of ALS. I'm grateful finally to have learned that being bull-headed is neither the best nor the only way to plow forward in the face of this disease....

READ MORE: http://journals.lww.com/neurologynow/Fulltext/2014/10010/What_We_Gain_by_Giving_Up.27.aspx