Don’t worry—I don’t do drugs or anything wild. But as a cancer survivor, needles have become a regular part of my life over the past two years.

One day in March 2023 stands out vividly. It was the day I endured 13 needles in one day. Between a biopsy, fertility treatments, IVs, and blood draws, I felt completely battered by the end of it. I couldn’t imagine ever getting close to that number again.

But last week, it happened during a routine PET/CT scan to ensure the cancer hadn’t returned.

The first tech, a kind and patient young man, tried three times to get an IV started—no luck. Next came a second tech, who gave it his best shot four times but still couldn’t find a cooperative vein. At this point, both nurses were both feeling awful for me. So, they called in reinforcements: another nurse equipped with an ultrasound machine. She tried four more times, even attempting my foot (which, by the way, is super painful), but still… nothing.

After 11 attempts and no blood return, it was clear my body wasn’t cooperating. It wasn’t their fault—my veins were just being stubborn. The team speculated that chemotherapy might have made my veins harder to access, a common side effect.

Now I faced two options:

1. Reschedule and hope for better luck another day.

2. Head down the hall to have a doctor insert a PICC line-type IV in my upper arm.

I wasn’t about to let all those attempts go to waste, so I chose the second option. The doctor numbed my arm with the 12th needle and, on the 13th attempt, managed to get a blood return!

I joked with him about going for a 14th needle to break my record, but he wisely declined.

What should have been a 1.5-hour appointment turned into a 4-hour ordeal. By the time my scan was finished, I was completely drained and sore. But every single poke was worth it. Why?

_{MY SCAN CAME BACK CLEAR!}

No evidence of cancer. Tears of joy, countless prayers of gratitude, and overwhelming relief don’t even come close to capturing how I felt.

Moral of the Story?

Life can be hard, messy, and downright painful at times. But even when the journey feels exhausting, resilience and enduring the struggle can lead to moments of indescribable joy. Keep going, even when it’s tough. Sometimes, it takes 13 needles to remind you just how strong you truly are.

You got this! Have a beautiful Christmas my friends! 🙂 

Erica ❤️🌺