Respiris’ Post

An Open Letter and Update from Respiris To the Respiris Community, Over the past several months, many of you have learned that our founder, Angel Cruzado, is navigating one of the most difficult chapters of his life. Angel has pancreatic cancer. Like many people facing a life-changing diagnosis, Angel initially tried to carry the weight privately while continuing to lead, parent, build Respiris, support others, and move forward. For a while, this battle remained deeply personal. Angel quietly carried the emotional, financial, and physical weight while bootstrapping Respiris, navigating life as a single parent, undergoing treatment, and researching clinical trials, hospitals, and therapies that could improve his life. Friends, colleagues, and community members eventually reminded him that this was not something he needed to carry alone. Cancer changes a person’s relationship with time, energy, priorities, work, family, and even silence. It forces people to confront what matters most while still functioning in a world that keeps moving at full speed. For Angel, three priorities became clear. First, his health. Second, being a Dad to Iris. Third, continuing to build Respiris into a company that re-inspires transitions for others during uncertain and overwhelming moments. Respiris was built from lived experience and around the belief that career transitions deserve deep empathy, community, honesty, and support without judgment. Now, Angel is living inside one of the biggest transitions of his own life. Over the coming months, Angel will begin sharing daily updates on Respiris.com. Some updates will focus on treatment, rebuilding strength, and uncertainty. Others will focus on leadership, fatherhood, emotional resilience, community, and continuing to show up when life becomes extraordinarily difficult. These updates are not about sympathy. They are about honesty, visibility, accountability, and community for people navigating difficult transitions in life, health, work, and family. Too many people suffer quietly. Too many people feel isolated while trying to remain strong for everyone around them. Some days these posts may be hopeful. Some days they may be exhausted. Some days they may simply be honest. But they will be real. Respiris remains fully operational, growing, and deeply committed to supporting organizations and impacted employees through transitions with dignity, empathy, and humanity. To every client, partner, founder, HR leader, coach, family member, friend, physician, nurse, and community member who has supported Angel and Respiris during this chapter, thank you. Thank you for the grace when his energy was limited. Thank you for the encouragement when the days became heavy. Thank you for reminding him and Iris that community matters. For those who would like to support Angel directly, we will provide the GoFundMe link in the comments. Tomorrow, he will post again. With gratitude, The Respiris Team