Our Brave Little Firefighter Hot shot and BFFS Heart Journey

Chapter 2

Hot shot was starting to grow his parents were keeping a very close eye on his heart. They wanted to make sure everything was running smoothly. Hot shot being a baby during the time they were starting do all these heart tests and such didn't like it too much. He was fussing and crying about it a lot. 

"Oh it's okay Hot shot," Quickshadow cooed. "Your okay, I know these tests are scary but they are to help," she said.

Heatwave was helping keep an eye on things as well so Hot shot would be doing alright. "It's okay Hot shot everything is going to be alright," Heatwave said.

Hot shot was growing more and more as time when on. Then Hot shot had another surgery at age 11 months. Hot shot also had a couple of cardiac catheterizations at the time to help with heart problems. Hot shot didn't like the doctors office at the time it was pretty scary for a baby. Hot shot was very scared and wanted his parents to protect him. He was afraid of many of the tests the doctors had to do and seeing the doctor on a regular basis. 

Hot shot was soon two years old. He still didn't like the tests the doctors had to do on him. Hot shot didn't even like the home tests his parents had to do. "Hot shot there is no need to be afraid poppet," Quickshadow said. "It's alright," she said.

"Tests scary," Hot shot said.

"I know they are kind of scary but they are to help you okay?" Quickshadow said.

"Okay," Hot shot said. Hot shot was still kind of nervous about it though. He was still a little toddler and medical tests were scary to him. Hot shot had his plush rhino Roxy. Hot shot took her everywhere with him. Hot shot never left home without her a lot of the time. Hot shot would take her to the park and take her to his doctor's appointments.

Quickshadow had the idea of dressing Roxy up like a heart patient. Roxy was wearing hospital PJs and had a big scar on her chest. Roxy even had the heart awareness ribbon embroidered on the the PJs. "Look at this Hot shot," Quickshadow said.

"Roxy has a scar like mine," Hot shot said smiling. That made him very happy. 

"Yes she does," Quickshadow said.

Hot shot soon had another appointment with Dr. Riley his pediatric cardiologist. Hot shot was very nervous and scared. But he was ready to be brave. Hot shot was a bit scared still though. 

Hot shot saw the nurse who was soon going to do an EKG and Hot shot was nervous. The nurse then did something strange she took little stick note strips and stuck them to places on Roxy. Then she attached the wires to them. She drew a graph that the EKG would do. "See that is what it will do," the nurse said. Then she removed the wires from Roxy alone with the stick note strips. Then Hot shot let her place the stickers on his chest and the wires too. Hot shot stayed nice and still for it. Hot shot was very brave for it too. Then the test was over. Hot shot was very happy it was over.

"There you go all done," the nurse said.

Then Hot shot got an echo to look at his heart. Then nurse placed the probe on Roxy to show Hot shot what she was going to do. Hot shot felt so much better seeing that. Then the nurse attached some stickers and wires to Hot shot's chest. Then she put some gel on the ultrasound prob and turned on the machine. She placed it on his chest and started to take the pictures. Hot shot felt saw the pictures. "That is your heart," The nurse said pointing. 

"Wow," Hot shot said. He was pretty amazed by it. He was in awe of what his heart was doing. It was pretty cool to say the least. Hot shot was happy to see it too. "What is it doing?" he asked when he saw it moving.

"Your heart is beating," the nurse said. "Your heart beats all day everyday," she said. "Your heart fills with blood and pumps it out. It does this all day everyday." she said. "It is a very strong muscle," she said. "This way your body can get the oxygen and nutrients it needs, along with getting rid of waste and carbon dioxide." she said. "So your heart has important job," she said.

"Oh," Hot shot said. "But why do I feel tired a lot and have a funny feeling in my chest and have to come here so often?" he asked.

"Because you were born with a heart that doesn't work right." the nurse said. "Thousands of kids like you every year are born with heart defects, these heart defects can really make it hard for your heart to work and do it's job," she said. "The are many different kinds of known heart defects and some kids have more than one," she said. 

"Oh," Hot shot said. 

Hot shot soon saw Dr. Riley. Hot shot showed him how Roxy looked now. "Roxy is heart patient just like me," Hot shot said.

"That is nice," Dr. Riley said.  Then Dr. Riley did a full exam on Roxy. Hot shot then let Dr. Riley examine him.

That is what started Hot shot always making Roxy go first for his heart exams. It made Hot shot feel better and like he had some control. Dr. Riley and the rest of his team were happy to oblige and do that for him. They wanted to make children like Hot shot feel safe and comfortable during treatments, appointments and tests. Hot shot was glad that Roxy was getting treatments, appointments and tests like him. Hot shot sometimes used Roxy to tell his parents, doctors and nurses how he feels by saying how Roxy is feeling at the moment. 

Many parents at the hospital were asking about the rhino. "Where did you get it?" one mother asked.

"Where can I get one for my child?" a father asked.

That is when Quickshadow and a few of the cardiac nurses and doctors she worked with decided to start the heart rhino program. They made hundreds of plush rhinos together. They were all super soft and cute and looked great. Then they made hospital PJs. They made each rhino unique some of them had bumps that were pacemakers. Some had pumps, and masks for PH. Some had scars on their chests similar to open heart surgery. Some had a bump with a scar to show open heart surgery with a pacemaker. They all had toy blood pressure cuffs, toy pulse oximeters, and toy stethoscopes all the things that kids with heart problems are familiar with. Her cousin had been working on the app for the months that Quickshadow was working on it. It was finally finished too and working great. Now every rhino had a code for an app on a tablet. This way kids can play with their rhino and learn about their own person heart problem which their rhino has like them and how to care for it. It would teach them how to care for their hearts. 

Soon during Hot shot's next hospital stay for a surgery. Quickshadow showed the rhinos to all the kids and gave kids a rhino that matched their heart problem. The kids were so happy to have them. Texas children's higher ups saw how happy it made the children in the heart center to have their heart rhinos. They were wanting to add heart rhinos to other branches of the Texas children's hospitals. Quickshadow thought that was a wonderful idea and was hoping to one day send the heart rhino out to make it nationwide. To help kids with heart problems around the world. 

Hot shot had more surgery as he grew along with cardiac catheterizations. Hot shot knew this was part of his care. Hot shot was growing up getting used to being in and out of the hospital. Hot shot sometimes had to stay in the hospital when his heart was giving him problems. Hot shot didn't like that too much at all. 

By the time Hot shot was five years old he has had 5 open heart surgeries and 8 catheterizations. Hot shot has had 13 things done to his heart. Hot shot was doing his best to stay strong during this time. Hot shot was doing his best to do what his doctors say and take care of his heart. Hot shot is being very brave and going to be a very brave heart warrior no matter what lies ahead in the future. 

But soon things will take a major turn.