Fast facts (if you don’t have time to read the full post): I had my first blood draw as an adult! One needle down and three to go. This week is a light week in terms of appointments related to preparing myself for treatment. I worked today. I ate cheese.

TO THE LONG VERSION!

One week ago today, it rained. Well, it also snowed. And sleeted. The weather was really awkward. One week ago I also got the cancer diagnosis and today it also rained. The coincidence is important to me because when it rains, you should look for rainbows. I met my mom at 12:30 pm today at the cancer center to get my blood drawn for the first time as an adult. It rained on the way in and the sun was beaming bright on our way out. I have decided that this is my omen for what’s to come.

Whenever I bring my mom with me somewhere, someone is bound to know her. If you know my mom, she is probably the rainbow in your life. Shit, she might even be the sun and you revolve around her that is how gravitatingly wonderful my mom is. It is an honor to be a moon in her orbit. Asking her to go with me to the cancer center to get my blood drawn so she can hold my hand and show me where to go could easily be the most important part of my journey to date because my mom was only here herself a year ago. In true fashion, one of the staff members in the patient center remembered her while we waited to submit some paperwork. I held back tears as she introduced me as her daughter who was now here on her own journey. The pain I felt in that moment was almost unbearable.

My mom was diagnosed with stage three HPV throat cancer three days before Thanksgiving in 2020. Her cancer journey was swift and fucking hard. Hard is not even the best word to use. Whatever word that is harder than hard is the word I need to express what happened. And I know it is still hard for her. She has been been cancer free since March 2021. Her journey has been remarkable and I count every day as a blessing to still have my mom and even have her for my own cancer journey. I know she will read this and probably cry. Mom, just know I am crying as I write this and you are my hero and I cannot wait to be cancer free with you. Like mother, like daughter.

So, my mom held my hand. I told her she was my best friend. The needle slipped into my squirmy little vein and seconds later I walked away with my rainbow and saw the sunshine.

One needle down and three to go (I think.) I am still 110% impressed with the magic of accessing your medical records through KChart. I literally got my blood results back when I got back to work! My results so far look great. I have nice healthy blood. A vampire would approve, probably. Drink me up, you late night creep. I am healthy and delicious! I only had two reports in my account, so I am curious if more will appear soon and I can learn more about my inner health. Honestly, I have been concerned about my body because of my parosmia, but I am impressed so far that I am an okay potato. Clearly I was not that concerned because I haven’t had blood work done until now, but the needle phobia is very real despite the tattoos and piercings on my body that may try to convince you otherwise.

The sad part is none of my tests I had done today can tell me my blood type! LIKE EFF. Now that I am on this very science based journey, inquiring minds want to know. I am doing some major soul searching tonight. Am I desperate enough to ask for more blood work right now? The mystery is haunting me. I am tempted. I feel brave.

Speaking of mysteries, the mystery gift giver has stepped forward. Of course it is none other than one of my amazing friends from Chicago! Cheeky little gift giver. One less thing for me to be anxious about.

Today’s song lyric of the day is brought to you by Calvin Harris.

“I would be nothing
Without you holding me up
Now I’m strong enough for both of us
Both of us, both of us, both of us”

– Giant (with Rag’n’Bone Man), Calvin Harris