A Family’s Struggle to Bring Home a Loved One Lost Too Soon

In a heartbreaking turn of events that has left an Oregon family reeling with grief, 39-year-old Andres Castro suffered a fatal heart attack while sitting next to his wife on a flight returning from Bolivia. The couple had been celebrating their birthdays and visiting family in South America when tragedy struck without warning. As his wife Suanny watched in horror, Andres “suddenly stopped breathing,” forcing an emergency landing in Colombia. Despite the quick response from emergency personnel who rushed him to a hospital, it was too late. Now, his devastated family—including his wife, young son AJ, siblings, and parents—faces not only the emotional burden of unexpected loss but also the logistical challenge of bringing Andres’ body home to Oregon for a proper funeral.

“This is not a grief we ever imagined facing so soon,” shared Teo Ramirez, Andres’ brother, who established a GoFundMe campaign to help with the estimated $25,000 cost of preparing and transporting his brother’s remains back to the United States. The family, already “stretched thin” from caring for their mother who began suffering heart failure in April, now confronts this additional financial burden amid their mourning. Tiffany Castro, Andres’ sister, expressed the family’s collective shock: “We all miss him. We just can’t believe he’s gone. I feel broken, our whole family, it’s hard, trying to keep it together the best that we can.” Despite a ten-year age gap, Tiffany had never felt closer to her brother, making his sudden absence all the more painful to comprehend.

The process of repatriating a loved one’s remains involves complex international procedures that few families are prepared to navigate, especially while processing profound grief. The Castro family must work with both Colombian officials and the U.S. embassy to arrange for Andres’ body to be returned home. “It’s a process with the embassy and my family. We’re all just trying to work together to figure it out,” explained Tiffany. In their quest to bring Andres home, the family has reached out to Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, whose office has confirmed they are assisting the family in navigating the necessary procedures through the U.S. embassy in Colombia to ensure they can hold a proper funeral.

What makes this story particularly poignant is the context of Andres’ trip—a celebration of life and family connection that ended in tragedy. Andres and Suanny had traveled to Bolivia to celebrate their birthdays and spend time with Suanny’s family, a joyful occasion that no one could have imagined would be their last trip together. The contrast between the happiness of their celebration and the devastation that followed highlights the unpredictability of life and the fragility of our time with loved ones. For young AJ, who must now grow up without his father’s guidance, and for Suanny, who witnessed her husband’s final moments beside her on what should have been a routine flight home, the pain is immeasurable.

The community’s response to the family’s plea for help has been a source of comfort amid their grief. Within just two days of establishing the GoFundMe campaign, nearly $14,800 of the $25,000 goal had been raised, demonstrating how tragedy can bring people together in support of those suffering. “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you again for walking alongside us in this difficult journey,” Ramirez expressed to donors. This outpouring of generosity provides not just financial assistance but also emotional reinforcement that the family is not alone in their struggle to bring Andres home and honor his memory appropriately.

Through their devastation, the Castro family maintains a foundation of faith that sustains them. “We put our trust in God and know that He will provide a path forward. He always makes a way,” Ramirez shared. This spiritual strength, combined with their tight-knit family bonds and community support, offers a framework for navigating the unimaginable loss of Andres. As they work through their grief and the practical challenges of bringing him home, they hold onto memories of a beloved father, husband, son, and brother whose life, though ended too soon, touched many with love and joy. Their story reminds us all of the importance of cherishing our time with loved ones and supporting one another through life’s most difficult passages.