Donate in memory of our dear Shin Jeong Balino

Dear family and friends,

No parent should ever have to experience helplessly watching their precious child fight for her dear life and lose. On August 17, Nixon and Sherly Balino unexpectedly lost their daughter, Shin Jeong Gwyneth Florentino Balino to a rare disease called brainstem encephalitis with unknown cause. Shin, as she was fondly called, was a shining star that shone so brightly. Her sudden passing left her parents and our community with shock and broken hearts. At just 16 years old, Shin's dreams and aspirations were as limitless as the sky. Today, we can only cherish and honor her memory by standing together, hoping that her legacy will be of love, kindness and unity.

Today, we knock on your hearts’ door to support the Balino family in this time of unimaginable pain. We have set a goal of $15,000 to help alleviate the financial burdens of medical and funeral expenses. Your contribution, regardless of size, is a tribute to the love and kindness that Shin embodied.

Shin was born on the 2nd day of September 2006 in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines to Nixon Balino and Sherly Florentino. She was only 18 months old when she came to the United States in 2008 with her parents who were both missionaries. She had grown to be a sweet, loving, and responsible daughter to her parents, and the best possible elder sister to

her two brothers, Kenneth and David.

Though her vibrant life was cut short, Shin learned a lot about the important things in life. She was good at saving money so she could buy what she liked. She stayed fast to her interests and passions. She was a member of SkillsUSA and an honor student of Newark Vocational High

School. She described herself in ten words: kind, artistic, caring, insecure, introverted, glasses, brown eyes, black hair, sweater, and shorts. She knew her strengths and recognized her flaws.

She defined her name as:

S - hy but willing to push

H - onest to others

I - ngenious when putting mind in focus

N - otable cause there's no one like me

She had a real love for drawing and doing graphic designs. Even when solving math problems, she always managed to fill the spaces between her computations and geometrical illustrations with her art. Despite her situation in the hospital, she still showed her love for art by drawing her last piece, the day before she passed.

In her spare time, she loved to play Roblox, rhythm games, and Lego with her brothers. Outside, they would play catch or soccer for hours. Shin created an unforgettable bond with her brothers that no one can replace, as a best friend, as a supporter, and most importantly as an Ate (older sister). Shin was always there for them when they felt down, and she made helping and encouraging them her main priority. Her love for her brothers is irreplaceable. She will sorely be missed by her family and friends.

Let us honor Shin's memory by giving generously to this GoFundMe campaign or by sending your donations. Our collective support will provide great comfort to her family. Shin's spirit will forever dance among us, a reminder to embrace life's beauty, to spread kindness, and to chase our dreams. Let's come together as a community to ensure that her light continues to shine.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023, from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM at Clifton Family Church, 78 DeMott Avenue Clifton, NJ 07011. The Seong Hwa Ceremony will follow at 8:00 PM on the same day.

Thank you for your comforting support and compassion for Nixon and Sherly and the whole Balino family during this unimaginably difficult time. Your kindness and generosity are deeply appreciated.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Merly Barlaan