Courageous Little Firefighter, his Best Friends and Their Heart Journey

Chapter 2

Hot shot was now four years old. He was fully aware of his heart problems. He didn't like it one bit. He was very active. He wanted to run, jump, climb and play. He wanted to do that without getting so tired so quickly.

"Mummy I don't like my heart problems," Hot shot said. He was watching his mom check his pulse, oxygen and blood pressure.

"I know you don't Hot shot," Quickshadow said. "It is hard for your father and I to see you go through this," she said.

"I want to be able run, jump, climb and play without getting tired," Hot shot said.

"I know you do," Quickshadow said.

"It isn't fair," Hot shot said.

"I know it is not fair," Quickshadow told him. "Remember what is coming up in a couple of weeks?" she asked.

"My birthday," Hot shot said.

"That is right poppet you are going to be five years old and that is very big," Quickshadow said. She put everything down for her to bring to Hot shot's cardiologist when they see her next. Which was tomorrow afternoon.

"You know where are we going tomorrow?' Quickshadow asked.

"Where?" Hot shot asked.

"We are going to see your cardiologist as Texas Children's hospital," Quickshadow said.

"Oh boy I love seeing Dr. Ansah," Hot shot said.

"I know you do," Quickshadow said.

The next day Hot shot got ready to see his cardiologist. Hot shot was kind of excited yet nervous to see his doctor.

Hot shot was holding on to Roxy the heart rhino. They made it to Texas children's hospital to the heart center. Hot shot was being checked in for his appointment.

Hot shot saw there were many children there. There many he has seen before and a few he hasn't seen before. "Hi," Hot shot said approaching four other kids his age.

"I am Hot shot," Hot shot said.

"Hi I am Hoist," Hoist said.

"Hi I am Medix," Medix said.

"Hi I am Whirl," Whirl said.

"Hi I am Wedge," Wedge said.

"I have several heart defects and I am here to see my doctor," Hot shot said.

"I have several heart defects to and I am here to see a doctor," Hoist said.

"Same here," Medix said.

"Same for me," Hoist said.

"The same goes for me too," Wedge said.

"This is my heart rhino Roxy," Hot shot said. "My mummy did this for me so I wouldn't be so scared," Hot shot said.

"This is my first time in this hospital since I moved," Hoist said.

The others agreed.

"Well it is a great hospital for kids' hearts." Hot shot said.

"My uncle told me this hospital is the best for kids' hearts," Medix said.

"My mummy works here as a nurse," Hot shot said.

"That's cool," Whirl said.

Hot shot was now friends with these kids. 

Hot shot was soon called back and seen by his doctor. "Hot shot needs another surgery," Dr. Ansah said.

"Okay," Quickshadow said.

Hot shot's surgery was set up a week from now. Hot shot was soon checked on a few days later the day before the surgery. Hot shot made sure to pack a few things to make sure he had everything before going to the hospital.

Hot shot was soon taken to Texas children's hospital.

"I am a bit nervous for my surgery," Hot shot admitted.

"Hot shot I know you are but you had three previous surgeries, two when you were a baby and one from when you were two, that is why you have a big scar on your chest." Quickshadow told him.

"Okay," Hot shot said. "But is it okay to be nervous?" he asked.

"Yes it is perfectly okay to be nervous," Quickshadow told him.

"It is?" Hot shot asked.

"Yes it is completely normal," Quickshadow told him. "So try not to worry," she told him.

"If you say so," Hot shot said. He was holding on to Roxy the heart Rhino. "I wonder if my new friends will be there," he said.

"Hard to say but we need to get you to he hospital so we can get your surgery done," Quickshadow said.

Fireplug their dog barked and came up to them. "Bye Fireplug I will see you when I get back," Hot shot said. Then pet Fireplug good bye.

Hot shot was soon at the hospital. They did many tests. First the took some blood. Then the checked everything from his height and weight, and his vitals. Then he had an EKG and an Echo. Then he got an MRI and a chest X-ray. Hot shot was soon told he was ready for surgery. He was going to come first thing in morning.

His doctor told him not to eat anything the next morning. He needed to have an empty stomach. Hot shot was okay with that. His stomach was doing to many back flips from being nervous to think about eating. 

The next morning Hot shot double checked to make sure he had everything he needed. He had all of his things. Now he was holding Roxy the heart rhino tight and he was ready to go get his heart surgery.

Hot shot was now at the hospital. He was taken to another room and had his vitals checked. A child life specialist explained the surgery too him. Then an anesthesiologist told Hot shot was going to get medicine through special mask to help him sleep during the surgery. Hot shot could pick a scent for his surgery. Hot shot chose to have berry scented. 

Then Hot shot was taken down the hall. Hot shot saw many nurses and people. Then once in the OR. They placed stickers on his chest and placed a mask on his face. "Count to ten," the anesthesiologist told him.

Hot shot only got to five. Then he was fast asleep. The doctors went right to work and started to try to fix Hot shot's heart up some more. 

Then after about 6 hours the surgery was over. Hot shot was soon taken to CICU where he was going to rest and recover. 

There Hot shot woke up. He saw his parents looking at him. "Hi," Quickshadow said.

Hot shot had a tube in his mouth helping him breathe. He was told it was going to come out a bit later when the doctors were sure he was breathing on his own.

Then after a couple of days Hot shot moved into another room where he still got close watching but didn't need the ICU any more. Hot shot was happy to have the tube out of his mouth. He still had a lot of tubes and wires attached to help take care of him.

Then after a couple of more days Hot shot moved to an ordinary patient room. Hot shot was happy to be there too. He was glad to see his friends there at the hospital too. After about a week and a half Hot shot was able to return home.

Hot shot was glad to be back home where he belongs. Hot shot still got checked out by his cardiologist on a regular basis. During the check ups he was able to see his friends too. They were very good friends too. His friends soon had their own heart rhinos. They were all becoming very close friends.

Soon a big change was going make things a lot harder.