Cook Children's Wonder Little Hot shot and Best Friends Vs Ewing Sarcoma

Chapter 3

It was soon Monday. Hot shot was going to begin his treatment for cancer. He was very nervous about starting chemotherapy. "Don't worry many kids get nervous in the beginning," the nurse said. "But remember it is an important medicine that can help you in the long run." He told him. "First I am going to take some blood first," he said taking some blood from Hot shot's PICC line. Hot shot was feeling good about having his PICC line it kept him from getting ouchies. Hot shot was happy about that.

Hot shot was able to have his breakfast while the nurse took the blood to be tested and looked at. Then a bit later the nurse came back with some medication. "This is to help with the side effects of the treatment," the nurse told him.

"Okay," Hot shot said. Hot shot then took his medication. It was a little bit yucky but he took it without a fight.

"Good job," the nurse said.

"How come I have to wait to get my chemotherapy?" Hot shot asked.

"Because chemotherapy has to be made to order," the nurse answered. "The chemotherapy must be made for when it is needed if it is by IV or injection. But if it is oral it is already ready to take," he said. "The type you need is by IV so you will need to wait for it to be ready." He told him.

"Oh okay," Hot shot said.

"You will get your chemotherapy for four days every two weeks," the nurse said. "That is your chemo plan," he said.

"Chemo?" Hot shot asked.

"Chemo is short for chemotherapy," the nurse answered.

"Oh," Hot shot said.

Then a couple of hours later the nurse came back with some medicine in a bag. "This is your chemotherapy," the nurse said. Hot shot watched as the nurse washed his hands. Then he saw him set up the IV and pump. Then saw his wash his hands again. He watched as he came over hooked up the IV line to his PICC line and the unclamp the line. Then he watched a he started the pump. "There you go Hot shot now you can do what you want." The nurse said.

"Cool," Hot shot said. "I want to have a look around," he said.

So Hot shot and Quickshadow took a look around the hospital. There was a lot going on there. Hot shot saw there were many kids who had cancer. He was surprised to say the least. But Hot shot saw other things too. He saw the gift shop and the build a bear. Hot shot even got a build a bear Pokémon it was of Mudkip. Hot shot was very happy about it too. Hot shot was eager to find out more, about the hospital. There were playrooms, a child life zone, and playgrounds too. There was a library and even a hair salon. It was very cool.

The hospital was a very neat place.

Soon Hot shot was back his room. Penny the child life specialist came into the room. She wanted to talk to him about something. "Hello Hot shot I am going to explain hair loss today," Penny said.

"Oh okay," Hot shot said.

"Your hair might fall out two to three weeks after starting treatment," Penny said. "It might fall out before or after then," she said. "You might only lose a little hair with some patches of hair remaining, or your hair might fall out slowly, or you will lose all of your hair really fast including your eyebrows and eyelashes," she said.

"Does it hurt?" Hot shot asked.

"No it doesn't hurt normally, but some do feel tingling, or burning or itching," Penny said.

"Oh," Hot shot said.

"Some kids like to wear pretend hair called a wig," Penny said showing him one. "You can put it on and take it off when you want too," she told him. "The wig can look anyway you want it too, or it can match you hair like it was before," she said. "You can also have more than one wig to express your style," she said.

"Ooh," Hot shot said.

"A few kids like to wear bandanas or head scarves," Penny said showing him a bandana. "You can wear it whenever you want and take it off when you want to," she said. "They come in many colors and patterns," she said. "So you can choose what you like and find the ones to express your style," she said.

"Neat," Hot shot said.

"Some kids like to wear hats," Penny told him showing him a hat. "There are many different kinds of hats for you to choose from to wear," she said. "They all come in many colors, patterns, fandoms and styles," she said. "You can have a wide variety of hats to wear to express your style," she said.

"Cool," Hot shot said.

"A few kids choose to be bald and proud," Penny said. "it means the chose to rock being bald and are okay with people seeing it," she told him. "The only cover their head if they want to," she said.

"Wow," Hot shot said.

"Some kids do a variety of things from each of those options," Penny told him. "There is not wrong way to handle and express your hair loss," she said. "it is all up to you," she said. "After all it is a choice on what you do and no choice you choose will be wrong," she said.

"Okay," Hot shot said. "So whichever one I do is my choice," he said.

"Yes," Penny said.

"Does it mean I can try on all the different things and find what I like?" Hot shot asked.

"Of course," Penny said. "That is how it should work," she told him.

"Cool," Hot shot said.

Hot shot looked at all the different options. Hot shot saw his mother was knitting still. She was the one who brought him today. "What are you knitting mummy?" Hot shot asked.

"I thought I would knit a hat for you, if you might like a beanie hat to wear they are very soft," Quickshadow said. "I am almost finished with it," she said. "It is a yellow hat with a few golden sparkling stars. I am adding the last star and then it is finished," she said.

"Can I try it on when you are finished to see if I like it and that is what I might want to wear?" Hot shot asked.

"Of course," Quickshadow said. Then she finished stitching in the last star. "There we go, now you can try it on," she said.

Hot shot tried it on, it was nice and soft. Hot shot liked it a lot. He liked it much more than the other options he tried on. "I love it," Hot shot said. "You think you can make more?" he asked.

"I believe I can and I have a feeling your granny and grandmum would like to help too," Quickshadow said. "I will call and ask them if they can knit you a few hats," she said.

"Oh boy," Hot shot said. Then pump bleeped and chemo was over for today and the nurse disconnected the pump from the PICC line. Then the line was clamped and the cap was put back on. Hot shot felt a bit tired after chemo. But he was told that was normal.

Heatwave soon came in. "I am here to start my shift," Heatwave said.

"I got to go Hot shot," Quickshadow said. "But I will be back, I promise." She said.

Hot shot was happy his dad was going to be with him. But kind of sad his mom left. Hot shot saw his dad had a few things in his hands. "These are presents from Blades, Boulder and Chase, all the family and family friends know about you having cancer and they wanted to give you a few things," Heatwave said.

Hot shot got a new book, a toy car and a cuddly plush Jaguar. Hot shot soon went to bed, and was going to keep fighting. He knew treatment has just begun and he was determined to win the fight against cancer.