Jairo Melgarejo

Maria Cilia has been having some good days, and some bad days. Thankfully she is receiving counseling and grieving support, but she keeps re-living the moment when she was taken out of her building which has now been demolished. That was a rough moment. I want to say thank you to everyone who has donated and we are getting closer and closer to our phase 1 goal. We would not be this close without each and everyone of you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Maria Cilia is known within the family as "Tia Pelucas". Pelucas told me that she thanks everyone from the bottom of her heart for our generosity and she hopes that God multiplies your donations by 1000%! We are still waiting for the government aid we registered her for (you know those things always take a long time), and with so many families and people affected it's become difficult to find a place to rent in Cali that is safe, without damage and affordable. Hopefully, with your help, we will be able to find a small place for her to live in. Keep sharing so we hit our first goal ASAP!

Today, Maria Cilia was able to go see the area where her home used to be. The building was already declared as uninhabitable and will be demolished soon. She went by to say good bye to what was her home for 40+ years. Emotionally, it's a roller coaster. She has good days, and bad days but we are all staying close with her to cheer her up as much as we can. Hoy, Maria Cilia pudo visitar lo que fue su hogar durante muchos años. El edificio ya fue declarado inhabitable, y sera demolido pronto. Hoy, ella fue a despedirse por ultima vez, sin poder entrar a recuperar nada. Gracias a todos por sus donaciones.

Maria Cilia, my godmother and great-aunt, is in her 80s and has just lived through an unimaginable loss. During the devastating earthquake in Colombia on August 10th, she lost the home she had lived in for more than 40 years, along with all of her belongings. She was able to escape safely, but now she is facing the painful reality of starting over at this stage in life. Maria Cilia lives alone with her dog, Candy, and with her only sister having passed away, she does not have close family nearby to lean on. Right now, she is staying with friends, but she has no home of her own, no furniture, and very limited resources to rebuild. Those who know Maria Cilia know she has an amazing heart. She has always been the first to help anyone in need, and now it is time to return that kindness to her. As my godmother, she has been a constant source of love and care, and I, Jairo Melgarejo, am doing everything possible to help her through this devastating moment. How your support helps: the funds raised will go toward helping Maria Cilia rent a safe place to live and purchase essential items so she can begin again with dignity and comfort. Any donation, no matter the size, will mean the world to Maria Cilia and will help her take the first steps toward rebuilding her life after this earthquake. Please consider giving and sharing her story. María Cilia, mi madrina y tía abuela, tiene más de 80 años y acaba de vivir una pérdida inimaginable. Durante el devastador terremoto que sacudió a Colombia el 10 de agosto, perdió la casa en la que había vivido por más de 40 años, junto con todas sus pertenencias. Logró salir a salvo, pero ahora enfrenta la dolorosa realidad de empezar de nuevo a esta altura de su vida. María Cilia vive sola con su perrita, Candy, y como su única hermana ya falleció, no tiene familia cercana en quien apoyarse. Por ahora está quedándose en casa de unos amigos, pero no tiene un hogar propio, ni muebles, ni los recursos para reconstruir su vida. Quienes conocen a María Cilia saben que tiene un corazón enorme. Siempre ha sido la primera en ayudar a quien lo necesita, y hoy nos toca devolverle esa bondad. Como mi madrina, ha sido una fuente constante de amor y cuidado, y yo, Jairo Melgarejo, estoy haciendo todo lo posible para acompañarla en este momento devastador. Cómo ayuda tu apoyo: los fondos recaudados se destinarán a que María Cilia pueda arrendar un lugar seguro donde vivir y comprar lo esencial para volver a empezar con dignidad y tranquilidad. Cualquier donación, sin importar el monto, significará muchísimo para ella y la ayudará a dar los primeros pasos para reconstruir su vida después de este terremoto. Te pido que consideres donar y compartir su historia.