Rillien's Medical Treatment Fund

It is rare in life we come across people we not only connect to but also resonate with on a level beyond comprehension. For me and countless others, this is the case with Rillien Cudal. Born in the Phillipines, Rillien immigrated to the US to further his career as an engineer and to provide financial assistance for his family back home. I first met him shortly after his arrival in the US and interviewed him for a position we had open in the company I worked for at that time. Timid and shy he answered my questions as best he could and apologized often for his English skills. Through it all, I couldn't help but see someone who earnestly cared and had passion for his purpose in life. This purpose seemed to revolve around taking pride in service to others.  It was because of this I recommended him for hire. Since that time, we have both moved on to other employers and have continued a relationship of Brotherly love and compassion at all times for the struggles we shared as well as the many victories we celebrated. In time I learned that my relationship with Rillien, while special and cherished, was not the only one he maintained. Such was his character and personality that he had hundreds of friends all over the country and in fact, the world! I beamed with pride when I realized this as it confirmed what I knew all along. Rillien was unique and one of a kind and I wasn't the only one to have discovered this treasure of a human being. None of this came as too big of a surprise to me though Rillien never quite understood it.  I would tell him "forest for the trees buddy" and we would laugh.

One week, about two years ago Rillien suddenly fell out of contact. I had him on the Find My Friends app though and I soon discovered he was at a hospital nearby to his home.  We were several states apart so there was little I could do at the time but call, text or anything else possible to find out what had happened. I looked at recent posts he had on Facebook and as it turned out, I wasn't the only one concerned. Post after post appeared asking him what is going on and how he is doing. When he did eventually call me back he told me he was sick and the doctors were trying to determine why. As the weeks and months passed the verdict of Cancer was finally revealed. Almost immediately a support group of friends and family launched into action to provide meals, rides to the hospital and every other service we could render to help him out. The chemotherapy took a brutal toll on his health and as the months passed, Rillien came to acknowledge his mortality and limits therein. When the doctors finished his treatments they could do little more than apologize as they were certain the efforts to cure him were exhausted. It was at this time that Rillien made the difficult decision to return home to his family in the Phillipines. This would be a natural choice for all of us as we would want to be near family in such difficult life trials. Such was not the case for Rillien. Being near family was important but not as critical as sharing his life journey with others and paying forward the kindness that had been extended to him in sickness. On his way home he had many stops along the way visiting with friends and saying what he had hoped would not be a final farewell. I was one of those stops and we spent the weekend doing many firsts that he had never had the pleasure of experiencing. We learned that while he was a horrible fisherman, he was an exceptional cook. While he could hold a gun (improperly I add), he was a terrible shot.  We stayed up very late many nights reminiscing and laughing loudly at the stories we shared with each other. This was true of all the friends and family he visited on his way back home and each of us took great pride in the moments we had together with him. Sadly, we all lack the ability to cure him but together are committed to helping him make the best of the life he has left. Upon returning to his home he has launched several events aimed at bringing his experience to others in hopes of mentoring young engineers and minds to accomplish what he was able to.  Further, he has helped to bring holiday meals to a nursing home and plans on furthering his efforts so long as his health holds out. This is where the purpose of this fund lies. Rillien is unable to work due to his condition yet needs medications and treatments that are too costly for him to afford. His health is in constant shift finding him well enough to move around one week and bed ridden the next. A young man in his early thirties he still has a wealth of goals he wants to accomplish yet so little time to get them all done. Rillien is a proud man and has often commented he doesn't want to burden anyone with what he is going through. Burden is not the choice of words for caring friends and family who earnestly seek a means of providing him what is needed yet because of distance are unable to.  It is because of this that we have put this fund together and sincerely hope it serves the intent for which it was created. Please consider Rillien in your generosity and desire to help someone in need. The personal contributions provided so far have helped but are not near enough. As friends and family of Rillien, we thank you for your consideration and generosity and can assure you that while there are many other causes you could entertain, none will be as overwhelmingly powerful as this one in the life of a loving man and spirit in need.  We thank you.