A message from Nick (Eds nephew)

Hey everyone, Brittani said it was my turn to blog tonight and asked me to tell you all about my Uncle Ed.  Ed and I are two and a half years apart, so a lot of the time he felt more like my big brother than my uncle.   When I heard Ed had cancer, I could barely believe it. Ed? That's crazy!  I immediately went through the full gamut of emotions, just like everyone else that found out.  And since finding out, it has continued to be an emotional time for me.  We have had so many calls, texts, emails, messages from people who care so much about Ed.  Most people tell us that the news has left them crying for hours.  Which is why we have been trying to help in any way we can.  We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support whether it be financial, kind words, and jewelry orders to show support.  We are so grateful.  All of this has left me reflecting reflect a lot about Ed and who he is to me.

When you're a kid, there's always people you idolize.  For me it was just Ed.  I didn't actually meet Ed until I was 8. My dad, had just finished up law school a few years earlier in New Orleans and we took a trip to see our family in Utah. Until that point we were  pretty far away from  all of our relatives on the Lunnen side.  That trip to Utah was really the first time I met my Grandpa and Grandma Lunnen as well.  Ed was ten.  I'll always remember that trip.  When your'e a kid everything is so amazing.  Grandpa's house had this really cool loft up on the second story.  That's where Ed's room was, the loft.  I immediately thought Ed was the coolest person I had ever met.  We played games and army with the little green troops and told ghost stories all night with flashlights.  It was a blast.  After that trip, I thought Ed was the greatest.

Years later, we moved up to Salt Lake because my Dad had found a job there.  When I was 12, my Grandpa Lunnen's health started to decline. So my Dad and Grandpa agreed that  Ed and Doree would come live with us.  They lived with us for 3 years.  It was the best.

As I said before, when they moved in I was 12.  Being twelve, I was just starting the tough years where you try to figure yourself out.  Ed was there for me.  I am the oldest of my siblings and so he was the older brother I never had.  I idolized Ed. It's pretty funny thinking about it now, but I wanted to dress like Ed (at that time it was wearing super baggy jeans past your butt and 3-4 pairs of boxers. LOL), I cut my hair like him, I talked like him, and pretty much anything Ed thought was cool, I did too.  Ed was the popular guy in school.  It seemed like he had everything going for him.  A lot of teenagers might get annoyed  having their nephew follow them around all the time and want to be just like them.  Not Ed.  He always included me in things, never made me feel like I was annoying.  He just made me feel accepted, it that was exactly what I needed.  He would let me tag along wherever he went.  I went to all sorts of high school parties even though I was only in the 8th or 9th grade. (probably some I shouldn't have gone to. Ha!)  There were plenty of times we got in trouble for missing curfew. But I didn't care because we always had fun!
We have already established that Ed is a professional volleyball player.  Growing up with Ed he taught me to play volleyball.  From the moment he started teaching me I shared that passion with him.  I too wanted to someday be a professional Volleyball player.  I would always go play with him and his friends.  That was one of the things I looked forward to most.   Looking back, I always wonder why he was so cool and willing to take me to do all these things with his friends.  Well, it's because that's the kind of person Ed is.   He's one of the most genuine and caring guys I know.   He had the coolest friends around, they treated me like a friend too, not like Eds younger nephew.  I always looked up to these guys. Aaron Sanders, Amora, Salman, Danny Chi, and many others.  I think it's just that great people hang around with equally great people.  It's been amazing to see all of Eds friends come together to support him at a time where his world must seem to be crashing down around him.

Anyways, I just wanted to let everyone know what kind of person Ed is.  Chances are if you've met Ed for even just a few seconds, you'd know that he is a special guy.  He accepts you and makes you feel important.  He's always joking around and making the mood a little lighter.  Well, I won't ever forget how Ed made me feel important.  I only hope I can return the favor and pass it forward.  You've got this Ed. #ibelieve. Love ya man.

Nick

(Just a little update on Eds current situation.  Before Ed is able to start any Chemo treatments for his cancer they have to make sure his body is free from any infection.  Because of the severity of the ruptured appendix that required the lengthy surgery this is taking a little extra time.  They also have to wait for the swelling (also a result from the ruptured appendix) to go down.  )

If it isn't enough to have to deal with a serious illness, and a devastating diagnosis, we are finding out that applying for any type of health insurance has become quite discouraging itself.

Thank you, Thank you for all your support and kind words.  Ed wants to post and thank you all himself and give a little update, we will wait for him to be ready to do that.