Thankful for Tired Veins

Here we are, seven years into a long battle with cancer. I hate cancer, but what I do and do not like does not matter. Cancer strikes when you do not expect it and cancer is indiscriminate.

The cancer I am referring to is not mine, but a dear family member’s disease. I am healthy (as far as I know) and my family member is stable. But, that stability with a cancer diagnosis does not come easy. At least every three weeks we travel to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for a dose of expensive meds that make the disease more visible for the body to see and fight. So far this form of treatment has been tolerated well and appears to be keeping the disease to a minimum level - an almost imperceptible level.

To deliver the soup into the veins requires needle pokes - many of them. My family member began this journey with veins that had already endured decades of efforts carrying blood through them. Then those very veins began a regiment of being poked and prodded at a regular interval. When successful on the needling, chemicals are then pumped into the vessels to carry a sometimes toxic product throughout the body. The process appears simple, but is not. So many details have to work - the body must be healthy enough in many ways for the treatment to be considered, venous access must be acquired, and then the body must tolerate the mix dumped into it.

During the last treatment and again today there was trouble inserting a catheter into a vein on the top of the hand. Multiple pokes along with the pain and uncertainty happened again today. Even with intentional efforts to almost over-hydrate, there was still trouble...the veins were tired. But, eventually the process worked again. The team demonstrated their skills and the cancer is now receiving yet another assault. The battle continues on.

I am appreciative for tired veins and the challenge they are presenting. That we have this struggle every three weeks means cancer has not proven victorious in this battle. Tired veins are indicative of special times spent together. Tired veins mean we have options - maybe not easy - but we have options. Tired veins have given us extra years of time that we took for granted before the diagnosis. I am thankful for tired veins.

During our icy drive to Rochester early this morning my favorite tree on the route stood front and center in a snowy field with a vibrant sunrise peaking over the horizon. I needed to stop - the ice, the traffic driving too fast for the conditions, the anticipation of the day, and the beauty of the composition - I had to stop to record it. This electronic view does not do the scene justice, but this is the best I have. After shooting this picture we continued on to the battle with tired veins and a will to win.