Main fundraiser photo

Internet Guru's Final Expenses

Anthony Ardell Gandalf Parker, called Gandalf by all who knew him, passed away on Sunday, July 26th, 2015, at 2:07pm at David Grant Medical Center on Travis Air Force Base near Fairfield, California.
Gandalf was a beloved husband, father, friend, and teacher to many.
He is survived by sisters Debra and Christy, brother Jim, his wife Connie, his son Anthony (called Mith), and his daughter-in-law Jennifer.
He was preceeded in death by his oldest son Gandy, and both parents, Cleavland (Cleve) and Verne Adell.
Gandalf spent his life doing many things. He was a Park Ranger, taking care of nature and animals. He was a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force, and put in a full 20 years before retiring. He was an Internet Guru before Internet even existed, and became the Base's expert. He had his own computer help business before "Geek Squad" was even a thought. He ran servers for MMORPG's before graphics ever came into the picture. And he spent most of the last 20 years of his life taking care of his severely physically and developmentally disabled son, Gandy, who passed away a little over a year ago.
Gandalf suffered from a difficult and painful chronic disease called Hidradinitis Supurativa, or HS for short. He suffered pain and bleeding for many years without a light at the end of the tunnel. Several years ago, working with several doctors from different medical departments on Base, he developed what he called his "all or nothing" plan, to have a liposuction surgery, cut out all of the HS spots, and then use radiation to keep it from coming back.
Gandalf was unable to complete his plan at that time, due to several financial and medical emergencies with his family. Then, at the beginning of this year, we were able to work towards putting the plan into action. 5 years had passed, and the doctors on base had looked at his plan, refined it, and had actually used it successfully on other HS patients. The refined plan used Gastric Bypass, Sleeve, or Band surgery in place of Liposuction. In April 2015, Gandalf started the diet and preparations for a Gastric Sleeve Surgery, so that he could lose the weight needed to allow him to have the surgery that would remove the HS from his body, possibly permanently. Since then, on the new diet and exercise program, he lost 40lbs before the Gastric Sleeve Surgery, to prove to the doctors he could make it work for him.
On Monday, July 20th, he had his Gastric Sleeve Surgery. Gandalf did very well for the first 2 days, and everyone on the medical staff was thrilled for him, as he was exceeding all expectations.
Then, disastrously, he had an HS flare-up. He stopped being able to take in fluids the way he had been, became dehydrated, and was unable to have a bowel movement. He started vomiting and spitting up the fluids he had taken in, and, on day 7 of his hospital stay, aspirated on his vomit.
He stopped breathing, his heart stopped, and they performed CPR on him for 25 minutes. They then put him on a ventilator. He never regained consciousness.  After a few hours, even the doctors knew that they would not be able to save Gandalf.
Surrounded by family and friends, his wishes were respected, he was taken off of the ventilator, and passed, joining his son, Gandy.
There is now a black hole in our hearts that can never be filled. 
Gandalf was an amazing person, and was also the breadwinner of the family. Without him, it is highly likely that we will lose the house we have worked so hard to save, his wife's car, which she needs to go to work and doctor's appointments for her Fibromyalga, and even getting together the money for his final arrangements.
It is a lot to take in, and try to manage on top of the pain of having lost Gandalf so suddenly.
We will strive to look at every option, and do everything thing we can, but we need your help.
Anything will help.
Please.

Organizer

Jennifer Parker
Organizer
Vacaville, CA

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