Children's Mercy's Little Firefighter and Best Friends Heart Journey

Chapter 1

In Kansas city Missouri lived a married couple, their names were Heatwave and Quickshadow Flamezer. Both Heatwave and Quickshadow had been trying to have a baby for sometime. They had been struggling to get pregnant. They were wondering if they were ever going to have a child. They were hoping to have a child soon.

"Oh Heatwave will we ever have a child?" Quickshadow asked.

"Don't give up hope Quickshadow," Heatwave said. "Some day we will have a child," he said.

"I sure hope so," Quickshadow said.

Then one day a few months later Quickshadow discovered she was pregnant. "Heatwave I'm pregnant," Quickshadow said.

"This is the best news ever!" Heatwave said.

They were so happy. They were finally going to be having a baby. They were hoping to have a successful pregnancy. They were also dreaming of the amazing child they were going to have.

They went to their first check up. "Everything is looking good," the ultrasound tech said. "The baby is doing great and the heart is beating," she said.

Heatwave and Quickshadow felt so happy and relieved. They were really looking forward to their baby's arrival.

They came to each prenatal check up. Things seemed to be going well. They were thinking of names for there baby. "There are many great names and we can find the right name for our child when they are born." Quickshadow said.

"You are right," Heatwave said.

"I hope things keep going well," Quickshadow said.

At the next ultrasound scan things took a turn. Quickshadow was laying on the table as the tech was looking at the screen. "Hmm, I see something going on," the tech said. "Need a doctor to take a look at this," she said.

A doctor came in and took a look at it. "Hmm it looks like something is going on with the baby's heart," the doctor said. "Go to Children's Mercy Adele Hall and get an ultrasound there," he told them.

They headed right to Children's Mercy Adele Hall they were hoping things were going to be alright. They met with a doctor. "Hello I am fetal cardiologist, let's take a look shall we?" The doctor said.

Quickshadow got another ultrasound. The doctor looked very carefully at the baby's heart. He saw what was going on. "Your baby has several heart defects, there is two holes in the heart, transposition of the great arteries, tetralogy of Fallot, and blocked valves," the doctor said. "Your baby's heart is a mess and will need a lot of surgery and other treatments throughout life," he said.

"Do what you can to help our baby," Quickshadow said.

"Please do what you can," Heatwave said.

"We have to keep an eye on you and the baby," the doctor said. "We need to watch carefully and once the baby is born we will move your baby here to be monitored before the first surgery," he said.

"Okay," Quickshadow said.

During the remainder of her pregnancy Quickshadow saw doctors at Cook children's hospital. They were making sure everything was okay.

Heatwave and Quickshadow were busy learning about their baby's condition. They wanted to give their child the best of care on e born. They wanted to help their child live with a heart condition and be normal. They wanted to make sure despite of that, their child was going to live a normal and healthy life.

Then a few months later in November their son was born. They named him Hot shot. Hot shot was taken straight to Children's Mercy Adele Hall NICU. Hot shot was receiving care their from the doctors. They were checking on him and such. They were seeing how he was doing, they wanted to make sure things were okay.

Hot shot was soon taken in for his first surgery a few days later. The doctors went right to work at fixing Hot shot's heart. They patched the holes, put the arteries in the right place, removed the blockage to the valves and fixed a few other problems. The cardiothoracic surgeon knew Hot shot might need more surgery at time goes on.

Hot shot was soon back in the nicu and he was covered in needles, tubes and wires. His chest had a bandage on it. It was where the doctors did the surgery.

Hot shot was soon awake and doing well. He was eating well and doing just fine. Hot shot was soon able to go home.

Heatwave and Quickshadow monitored their son very closely. They wanted to make sure that he was alright. They checked his heart with special devices everyday and wrote down the numbers that were for that day.

Hot shot had to be taken to a cardiologist on a regular basis. They went to the heart center at Children's Mercy Adele Hall. They did Hot shot's first heart surgery so they felt they could trust them. They were wanting to make sure Hot shot received the best of care. They chose a great doctor to help them out. They had a good team for Hot shot and anything he might need as he grows.

Hot shot was doing okay so far. When Hot shot was 4 months old he had to get a catheterization operation. He was doing fine after that. But when Hot shot was 10 months old he needed another open heart surgery. During that time a bit later he had another catheterization.

Hot shot was doing okay after that. Hot shot still had to be monitored very closely. Hot shot was becoming a kid who was always on the move. But due to his head problems he had to take frequent breaks and would sometimes find it hard to catch his breath.

Hot shot at a year old had 2 more catheterization operations. Hot shot's little heart needed a lot of care.

Hot shot as he grew got to know the people in the hospital. He also got to know his fellow heart patients. He got to be friends with four who were his age who also had CHD. Their names were Hoist, Medix, Whirl, and Wedge. They all became the best of friends.

He also knew all about his condition as he grew. He was told his scar was from needing surgery to fix his heart. He was told why he has to see the cardiologist so often. He was told why he has to get all these tests done. Hot shot was surprised about all of that. Hot shot was upset to have such heart at times because it made it hard for him to run, jump, climb and play like he wanted too. He was also wanting to play sports but his parents said with the way his heart is, it wasn't going to be an easy thing to do. Hot shot wasn't happy about that at all. 

Hot shot was able to play with his friends on occasion. They were all able to relate to each other on this. They could understand how it feels to not be able to do things you wish to do. It made them upset not being able to run without getting tired so quickly. They all hoped one day they could run together and have fun.

Hot shot was soon five years old. By that time Hot shot had 6 catheterizations and 4 open heart surgeries. Hot shot was coming in for his 5 open heart surgery. Hot shot was ready for it too. He was a little nervous but ready for it.

Hot shot was take to Children's Mercy Adele Hall for his fifth open heart surgery. Hot shot was a bit nervous but he was ready for it. He was ready to help his heart. He was all packed and ready to go.  Hot shot was checked in once they got there. Hot shot was taken back and was made to fall asleep. Hot shot was sleeping and the doctors went right to work at fixing his heart again. It wasn't an easy task to say the least. But they managed to fix it. Hot shot was once again the CICU. Hot shot was covered in tubes and wires again. His parents were used to seeing it. Hot shot was doing well. Soon after several days Hot shot was able to return home.

Hot shot seemed to be doing okay after his heart surgery. He seemed to be doing okay with this normal regimen of visit, surgeries and catheterizations. But nothing lasts forever. Soon Hot shot was going to need a new option to help.