Support Shaloom's Family After Tragic Loss

Hi friends, family, and kind-hearted strangers,

My name is Shaloom Delgado. I'm an international student from Colombia who came to the United States as a student-athlete at Brenau University in Georgia. I left home 4 years ago to pursue an education and fulfill my dream and my father's of playing college tennis, never imagining I would one day be writing this message under such heartbreaking circumstances.

On April 21 at 1:30 a.m., my father passed away unexpectedly after suffering an aneurysm and several blood clots that caused irreparable damage to his brain. He remained in a coma for 12 days before his heart gave out due to brain death. He was just 47 years old.

My father was not only a devoted husband and loving dad—he was also a priest of a small church in Bucaramanga, Colombia, and a deeply committed servant to his community. He was the sole provider for our family, supporting my mother, my younger brother, and my paternal grandmother with everything he had. His sudden loss has left our family not only heartbroken but in an extremely difficult financial situation.

Because my dad was self-employed, he did not have life insurance or access to government assistance—unfortunately, those safety nets don't exist for many families in Colombia. My mother, who has been out of the workforce caring for our home, now faces the unimaginable challenge of starting from scratch while grieving her husband and trying to keep our family and church community together.

I'm starting this fundraiser to help cover the cost of my father's funeral and to provide some financial stability for my family in the months ahead as my mother works to reenter the workforce. Our goal is to raise $18,000, which will go directly toward funeral expenses and helping my family through this critical transition period.

This is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do—but I know we can't do it alone. If you're able to give, any amount will make a meaningful difference. If you can't give right now, please consider sharing our story. Every act of kindness, every prayer, and every show of support is deeply appreciated.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping us through this devastating time.

With love and gratitude,

Shaloom Delgado