NED

There's a new guy in town. NED. Kevin's new life partner. We're a threesome now.

Not generally known for my sharing nature, I'm willing to scoot over and give NED his own pillow in the warm, snugly center of our bed. Whatever it takes to keep him around. No guest room, no temporary status or short term visits. NED is being embraced, possibly hugged til he chokes, with wide open arms.

NED is one of those guys we didn't appreciate when we first knew him. He's quiet, low key, unassuming. The kind of stable influence you take for granted and assume will always be around until he isn't.

The antithesis of Cancer.

Cancer took over our lives like the house guest from hell. Dropped in uninvited, trashed the place and drained our wallets. We used every means possible to uproot Cancer; we isolated him, fed him toxic cocktails, turned up the heat in his room with radiation and cut off his funding. Our mission was to send him packing and change our address so Cancer could never find Kevin again.

NED, on the other hand, is being wooed with breakfasts of sticks and twigs and fresh berries. Whole grain breads. Organic veggies. Fresh air and a plethora of experts trained to anticipate NED's every need. I bake bran muffins for NED, with raisins and cranberries. What now passes for chili in our house has no meat in it and double the beans. We entice NED to stay with a refrigerator full of anti-oxidants, probiotics and other formerly foreign words. He sticks around through the occasional lapses into BigMacs and pepperoni pizza.

It's working. Donna called today from the cancer center. Kevin's most recent PET/CT scans are "clear, absolutely fine."

No Evidence of Disease. NED

Thanks, NED, for sticking around. And thanks to each of you for your prayers and continued support.