Brave Little Firefighter of Texas Children's and BFFs, Heart journey

Chapter 2

Hot shot was a cute little baby boy born with heart defects. Hot shot's little heart when he was born, came in such a way that didn't work right. Hot shot has had two surgeries by the time he was two months old. Hot shot was doing a bit better now. Hot shot was growing into a healthy little baby. Hot shot had his pediatric cardiologist Dr. Riley. Hot shot was scared and fussy due to being an infant. He didn't understand why the doctors were hooking up these wires to him or sticking him with a needle. Seeing those things and all the things that the doctors and nurses did to him on a regular basis made him scared. He was an infant and he didn't know what was happening so he was scared.

Heatwave and Quickshadow closely monitored his little heart. Hot shot had to have three cardiac catheterization procedures by the time he was 11 months old. Hot shot was still fearful. He was very scared.

Hot shot was still growing into a wonderful child, despite his heart condition. Hot shot was coming into his own special personality. Hot shot is still afraid of the his pediatric cardiologist. He was still scared of the tests too.

Hot shot was soon three years old. He didn't like it when the doctors would mess with him. He loved his favorite plush toy a rhino ha calls Roxy. Hot shot takes her with him everywhere. Hot shot is very scared whenever he has to go to the heart center or if he has to stay in the hospital for a surgery, or for a heart emergency, or not doing well. Hot shot was afraid of that too. Hot shot also didn't like having to take medicine to help his heart too. Hot shot thought the medicine was yucky.

Quickshadow was thinking she had to do something to help Hot shot feel less afraid and be more willing to cooperate with the doctors and his medical team. She thought of Hot shots favorite plush Rhino Roxy. She made for him for his third birthday. She made it out of soft grey fluffy fleece and the horn was made of smooth grey fleece. She decided to use Roxy to help Hot shot. She embroidered a heart on the left side of Roxy's chest, even embroidered a scar on her chest. She even embroidered the heart awareness ribbon on the left hind foot. Then she made hospital PJs for her and put a heart on it too along with the awareness ribbon on the heart. She dressed Roxy in the pjs. Then showed Hot shot what she did. "Roxy is a heart patient like you, she has problems with her heart like you," Quickshadow said.

Hot shot was amazed by how Roxy looked. Hot shot gave her a big hug and she felt the same as before. Hot shot was very happy.

Today Hot shot had a check up with Dr. Riley because he wasn't doing so well. He was a bit worried. Hot shot decided to take Roxy the rhino with him because he was scared. He watched as things were going by and he was very scared and nervous. He saw as Texas Children's Hospital came into view. The car was parked and Hot shot and his mother got out of the car. Then they headed into legacy tower. Hot shot was holding on to Roxy with one hand and holding his mother's hand with the other. Hot shot was very nervous and followed his mother to a heart center clinic. He was sitting down in the waiting room. Hot shot saw four other kids his age in the clinic who he was friends with. Their names are Hoist, Medix, Whirl, and Wedge. They had heart problems like Hot shot. They got all kinds test done, surgeries, catheterization and even medication like Hot shot. They found it hard to go to the hospital or clinic. It made them all scared and nervous.

Hot shot showed the what his mother did to Roxy. "Roxy is just like me," Hot shot said.

"Wow," his friends said.

Hot shot was playing and trying not to worry. Then a nurse came out. "Hot shot," the nurse said. It was now Hot shot's turn. Hot shot followed the nurse back with his mother. Hot shot got weighed and he checked how tall he was. Hot shot was very scared.

Hot shot was wondering what was going to happen now. The nurse saw Roxy and saw that she looked like a heart patient. Then she took the blood pressure cuff and used it on Roxy first. Hot shot saw Roxy doing and wasn't scared and he let the nurse do it to him. She even did something similar with EKG. She used pieces of sticky note on Roxy with the clips. Now Hot shot saw it was okay and let the EKG be done to him. Hot shot then saw Dr. Riley come in and Dr. Riley checked on Roxy first. Then Hot shot let Dr. Riley do it to him. With echo it was the same thing.

By the time Hot shot was 3 and 1/2 years old, he wouldn't let the doctors touch him unless Roxy went first. They even did it before Hot shot's 3rd open heart surgery.

Quickshadow had no idea what she created because so many parents were asking for a rhino like Hot shot's. Then Quickshadow working with partners made the heart rhino program. An app was made and rhinos with special customizations tailored to that child and what is going on with their heart. Soon they were sent out to those who asked for them and the heart patients of Texas Children's Hospital. It had become a success to help kids understand their heart conditions. Quickshadow had a feeling it was going to last for a long time to come. Hot shot was soon going to be four years old and he was glad heart rhino was there to help him through it. He was going to stay strong.