Parsons father suffers sudden amnesia, doctors seek cause

A Parsons father of two has been losing minutes of his life at a time, and doctors still do not know why. Jerry Evans, 29, has had random amnesia episodes for months that can leave him unable to remember where he is or even who his daughter is.

The spells reportedly last only a few minutes, but the disruption is immediate and personal. Evans is undergoing testing as doctors try to determine the cause, and the uncertainty has turned an ordinary family problem into a daily mystery for a parent trying to work, care for children and keep life steady in Parsons.

The stakes are sharper in a small county like Decatur, where serious medical problems can spread through a community quickly even when they start in one household. Decatur County had 11,435 residents in the 2020 census, and Parsons had 2,100, so a condition that affects one young father can quickly become a matter of concern for neighbors who know how fast a family can be thrown off course by an unexplained illness.

Sudden memory loss can point to transient global amnesia, a rare condition marked by abrupt memory loss that usually resolves within 24 hours. Medical guidance says anyone who suddenly goes from normal awareness to confusion about what just happened should seek immediate medical attention. Evans’ case fits the kind of symptom pattern that doctors treat seriously because the cause may range from a temporary episode to something that needs urgent evaluation.

For Decatur County families, the warning signs are hard to miss: a person who cannot remember where they are, who they are with or basic facts about their own life should not be left to wait it out. In Parsons, a practical first stop in an emergency is Decatur County EMS, listed at 1030 S Kentucky Ave., where quick response and transport can matter if the symptoms escalate or come with other neurological changes.

For now, Evans’ family is still waiting for answers. The testing continues, but the bigger question remains how a young father in Parsons lost his memory in brief, frightening fragments and why the spells keep coming back.