Our Brave Little Firefighter Hot shot and BFFS Heart Journey

Chapter 6

Hot shot has been in the hospital for almost three months. He has been there since the start of May. Hot shot was wondering if he was ever going to get his new heart as it was now July. Hot shot and his parents were waiting for that call. It was late at night and Hot shot was trying to rest. Hot shot had a lack of appetite that day and he didn't eat anything. His dietitian was considering a feeding tube tomorrow. 

Then Dr. Dreyer who was doing a night shift got a phone call. "This is Dr. Dreyer," Dr. Dreyer said. "Really there is a heart for Hot shot?" Dr. Dreyer asked. "I see all of that sounds good and it sounds like it might work, we have to go to the hospital and see for ourselves, I will get the transplant team ready," he said. 

The transplant team was gathered. "Alright everyone I got a call there is a heart for Hot shot, surgical team get the OR ready, procurement team get ready to get the organ with me, now I have to tell Hot shot and his family," Dr. Dreyer said. Dr. Dreyer came into the room where Hot shot was with his father. Heatwave was looking at some movies and showing them to Hot shot. "Hello got any plans tonight?" he asked.

"We were going to watch a movie," Heatwave said. 

"Might want to cancel that movie," Dr. Dreyer said. "How about a heart instead?" he asked.

"Really there is a heart for Hot shot?" Heatwave asked.

"Yes," Dr. Dreyer said. 

"Is there heart for me?" Hot shot asked.

"Yes Hot shot you are getting a heart tonight," Dr. Dreyer said. Then Dr. Dreyer left with the team to pick up the heart.

Hot shot was gotten ready for the surgery. Heatwave called Quickshadow who was working on a different floor and told her the news. Quickshadow rushed to meet him as Hot shot was being taken to the OR. Heatwave and Quickshadow kissed his head. "We will see you soon Hot shot," Heatwave said.

"We love you," Quickshadow said.

Hot shot was taken to the OR. Hot shot was getting prepared for the surgery. Hot shot chose vanilla for the smell of his medicine air. Then Hot shot was made to fall asleep. The doctors had opened Hot shot's chest and were waiting for the call from Dr. Dreyer to continue. Dr. Dreyer saw the donor heart was perfect and called the them team move forward. The team went right to work getting Hot shot on bypass and removing the heart. Once Dr. Dreyer came in Hot shot's chest had no heart in it. Then the team stitched the new heart in place. They waited for a few seconds and it started to beat slowly and then eventually made it to a normal rhythm in a few minutes. The doctors were watching for several minutes to make sure it was all alright. "There we go it was a success," the surgeon said. 

Once Hot shot was off bypass and had his chest closed he was moved to a new CICU room a new floor. Heatwave and Quickshadow had gotten many updates on Hot shot. Now they saw him coming down the hall covered in wires and tubes which was nothing new to them. But they saw he was pink and his lips were bright red. They were so happy that he was able to get another chance. But they knew even though they were happy another family was grieving. 

Heatwave and Quickshadow were happy to be with Hot shot in his new room. Hot shot was sleeping for several hours. Then about 10 am the next day he woke up. Hot shot was sick and tired. He had a lot of tubes and wires. Hot shot knew about this because he has had them before and he was used to them. Hot shot couldn't talk at the moment because of the tube in his mouth.

Then a few hours later the tube in his mouth was taken out. "There you go," a nurse said.

"Water," Hot shot said. He was very thirsty. The nurse gave him some water and Hot shot sipped at it slowly. He felt the cool refreshing water ease the dryness and soreness in his throat. "That's better," he said.

Hot shot was going to be in CICU for a few days. Hot shot was used the CICU but he was looking forward to going the regular cardiac in patient floors. Hot shot felt his strength coming back over the next few days. 

Hot shot was starting to feel a whole lot better. Then Hot shot was taken to the cardiac patient floors. Hot shot saw his friends also had their heart transplants too. They all had them in the same week. They were all so happy to see each other.

They were all going to have to stay in the hospital for a while still. But they were really happy to have gotten their new hearts and will be soon going home. But they were sad that kids had to die to help them live. 

Hot shot was hoping to get to know the family that gave him the heart.