It was meant to be a celebration of life, love, and family. Instead, a birthday trip to South America turned into a devastating tragedy for an Oregon family now struggling to bring their loved one home.

Andres Castro, a 39-year-old husband and father, was returning from Bolivia with his wife, Suanny, after celebrating their birthdays together and visiting her relatives. But on August 25, as their plane soared through the skies, the unimaginable happened: Castro suddenly stopped breathing.

Witnesses say the cabin crew scrambled into action as the pilots diverted the flight, making an emergency landing in Colombia. Medics rushed Castro to a nearby hospital. Yet despite their efforts, it was too late. Castro had suffered a fatal heart attack.

A Young Life Cut Short

Castro’s death has left his family shattered. He leaves behind his wife, their young son AJ, his parents, and siblings — all of whom now face the unthinkable task of bringing his body back to Oregon.

“This is not a grief we ever imagined facing so soon,” wrote Castro’s brother, Teo Ramirez, in a GoFundMe appeal. “We put our trust in God and know that He will provide a path forward. He always makes a way.”

The family’s heartbreak has been compounded by the daunting financial and bureaucratic hurdles of international repatriation. According to relatives, it could cost $25,000 to have Colombian officials prepare and transport Castro’s body back to the United States.

A Sister’s Grief

For Castro’s sister, Tiffany, the loss feels incomprehensible. “We all miss him. We just can’t believe he’s gone,” she told Portland’s KOIN. “I feel broken, our whole family — it’s hard, trying to keep it together the best that we can.”

Despite a decade-long age gap, Tiffany said she had never felt closer to her brother. “It’s just hard to believe that he’s not here,” she said softly. “That’s all.”

The siblings had also been caring for their mother, who was diagnosed with heart failure in April, stretching the family thin both financially and emotionally. “We’ve been through so much this year already,” Tiffany added. “Now this.”

A Plea for Help

In the wake of the tragedy, the family has turned to the public for assistance. Their GoFundMe, launched Monday, has already raised nearly $14,800 of its $25,000 goal as of Wednesday night. The funds will go toward repatriation costs and funeral arrangements in Oregon.

“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you again for walking alongside us in this difficult journey,” Ramirez wrote on the fundraiser page.

The family has also reached out to Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), whose office confirmed it is working with U.S. embassy officials in Colombia to expedite the process.

A Celebration That Turned Tragic

Friends say the trip was meant to be joyous — a time for Castro and his wife to celebrate their birthdays and connect with extended family in South America. Instead, the journey home turned into a nightmare that left Suanny widowed and AJ without a father.

“It was supposed to be a beautiful trip,” said one family friend. “They were happy, they were celebrating. No one could have imagined it would end this way.”

Remembering Andres

Those closest to Castro describe him as a devoted husband and father, a man who worked hard to support his family and loved to laugh. His sudden death has left a void that relatives say will never be filled.

“I just keep thinking about AJ,” Tiffany said, referring to her nephew. “He’s so young. How do you explain to a child that his dad isn’t coming home?”

The Road Ahead

As the family navigates their grief, their immediate focus remains on the logistics of returning Castro to Oregon for a proper funeral. The combination of embassy procedures, Colombian regulations, and soaring costs has been overwhelming.

Still, Ramirez said faith is keeping them grounded. “We know God will make a way. We believe in His provision, even in this darkness,” he wrote.

For now, the Castros cling to one another, leaning on community support and hoping the kindness of strangers will help them bring Andres home.

A Family’s Final Wish

The family insists that their only goal is to honor Castro with dignity, allowing his wife, son, and loved ones the chance to say goodbye. “All we want is to have him home,” Tiffany said. “That’s all we’re asking.”