Christian blogger Shannon Dingle lost her husband Lee Dingle in a fatal beach accident on the North Carolina shores on July 19. He was 37.

“My partner, my love, and my home died today after a freak accident,” Shannon wrote in a multi-post tweet.  “Lee was playing on the beach with three of our kids yesterday, and an intense wave hit him just right to slam his head into the sand and break his neck.”

Several people, including the couple’s children, tried to save Lee’s life, but it was too no avail. His initial injuries were too severe for him to recover from.

Lee and Shannon met when they were in their late teens and had been together ever since.  They had six children, four of whom were adopted. The adoption of their daughter Zoe, who has cerebral palsy, was featured in the Archibald Project. 

Shannon is not only a blogger, but also an activist that speaks about disability rights, sexual abuse, and the #Churchtoo movement. In her writing, she is not afraid to be open and vulnerable with the public. She has shared personal stories of sexual abuse and becoming pregnant at 12 years old. 

Now, as she processes her husband’s untimely death, she has been equally as open.

“I wasn’t supposed to be saying goodbye at 37. I don’t know how to be a grown up without him, but I’ll learn. I just wish I didn’t have to,” Shannon wrote, expressing her sadness and disbelief.

As news of the tragedy spread, support and love from the Christian community poured in for the Dingle family.

Christian author Mandy Hale wrote, “Shannon. I don’t have words. My heart grieves so immensely for you and your little ones. I have no platitudes or words of wisdom…just all the love I can squeeze into one tweet. I’m lifting you up. I’m standing with you. I’m praying for buckets of grace for your family.”

Shannon. I don’t have words. My heart grieves so immensely for you and your little ones. I have no platitudes or words of wisdom…just all the love I can squeeze into one tweet. I’m lifting you up. I’m standing with you. I’m praying for buckets of grace for your family.

— Mandy Hale (@MissMandyHale) July 20, 2019

The magazine Christianity Today Women offered up its support with a tweet as well. “How tragic and shocking. We grieve with you and your family, Shannon. God be near.”

How tragic and shocking. We grieve with you and your family, Shannon. God be near.

— CT Women (@CT_women) July 20, 2019

“I am laying in bed reading this: stunned,” tweeted author Glennon Doyle. “I am stunned and have no other words other than – all the love and hope and tears and strength I have in my heart go out to you and your beloved babies tonight. God bless you and keep you, precious Warrior Shannon.”

I am laying in bed reading this: stunned. I am stunned and have no other words other than – all the love and hope and tears and strength I have in my heart go out to you and your beloved babies tonight. God bless you and keep you, precious Warrior Shannon.

— Glennon Doyle (@GlennonDoyle) July 20, 2019

Friends of the Dingle family set up a GoFundMe page to help with expenses, and it has raised nearly $300,000 in six days.