I love my veins. It may seem strange to say, but I am having a love affair with my veins.

Until two years ago, I took them for granted. They were just one of the many parts of my body that when working, give me life.

As I prepared to go through chemo their importance was spotlighted. It was my choice,along with my doctor's and nurse's okay, that I would receive chemotherapy through my veins. I preferred this over the option of having a port put in my body or receive the treatments via other means.

In the beginning, my veins were fairly easy to access and thread. However as the treatments, tests and labs continued it became more and more difficult to find a "cooperative" vein. I don't blame them; being filled with poison (chemo) or testing dyes, plus having blood drawn was quite a change from years of doing their job undisturbed. I am thrilled that my veins survived the challenges of so many needles.

Today I had to have blood drawn for more tests. The nurse was able to get a vein in the first try, not a common or easy feat these days. I was happy. I am so delighted they worked without multiple sticks (once it took 8 trys before they got one to work). Even the most talented phlebotonist has had trouble in the past.

I love my veins. They have been a vehicle that led to discovery, provided chemo to kill cancer and are giving me life filled with hope.