Brave Little Firefighter, BFFs, and a Dragon, Heart Warrior Journey

Chapter 6

It has been a few months after Hot shot's hospital stay. He was having a check up with his cardiologist Dr. Runkel. He was having a couple of tests done on his heart. Hot shot was doing very well now and things were going smoothly for him. 

"I have some good news and bad news Hot shot's pulmonary stenosis is still growing back growing back and the one medication we have him on to help with the chest pain seems to be helping him," Dr. Runkel said. "Hot shot's heart rate is normal too, so Hot shot so far is doing well," she said. "Hot shot will still need to see me and be check every once and a while, but everything is looking so far so good," she said. "Hot shot has a lot of energy he is able to run, jump, climb and play, he doesn't need more than one medicine, right now it doesn't look like he needs a cardiac catheterization again, but does it look like he will need more surgery later," she said. "Hot shot is doing well and he is active and that is making his heart stronger and healthier," she said. "Hot shot is a very healthy child and his heart is doing well after the second stenosis repair and if it stays like that Hot shot will be able to do things as much as a normal child would as he is now," she said. "Because right now he is able to do things without tiring, getting out of breath, his chest hurting or his heart pounding. Hot shot is doing well as any child, but he will still need to see me just in case to keep an eye on his heart, but for now he has no restrictions," she said. 

"That is great to hear," Quickshadow said. "I am so relieved," she said.

"Thank you so much," Heatwave said. 

"But there is still a chance that the stenosis will continue to regrow and cause problems, and there maybe problems with his pulmonary valve that may develop later," Dr. Runkel said. "He also might need to take another medicine later  along with his current one, and there might later be a problem with the way his heart beats," she said. "So it is going to be a long road ahead still," she said. "Because there is a chance things might become difficult for him," she said. 

"I understand," Quickshadow said.

"Thank you so much Dr. Runkel and we will be aware of that," Heatwave said.

"Hot shot I want you to remember if you ever feel weak or tired, or out of breath, or feel like you chest hurts or feel a pounding in your chest. You should tell your parents right away," Dr. Runkel said. "That way they can call Dr. Erret or me so you can get help," she said. "If the problem is with your heart we might have to do more to it," she said. 

"Okay," Hot shot said with a nod. Hot shot was very smart and knew to listen to his doctors. Hot shot was now ready to return home. 

Hot shot was doing very well and was very happy. Hot shot was able to run, jump, climb and play and have a lot of fun. Hot shot was very happy. But then Hot shot felt a sharp pain in his chest and the without warning collapsed. 

Heatwave was there and came running up to him. He shook Hot shot. "Hot shot can you hear me, are you alright?" Heatwave asked.

Hot shot didn't answer. Heatwave quickly checked for breathing and Hot shot wasn't breathing. He checked if Hot shot had a pulse and couldn't find a pulse. His neighbor saw the whole thing. Heatwave began doing CPR. "Call 911!" Heatwave shouted to his neighbor.

Then his neighbor took out his smart phone and dialed 911. "My neighbor's kid just collapsed in his backyard, his father is doing CPR right now," the neighbor said. "The child has heart defects that were discovered late and treated late I think he is having a heart emergency," he said. "Paramedics are on the way good," he said.

Paramedics from Cook children's headed there fast and made it to Hot shot backyard and applied AED after lifting up his shirt. There was a shock. "We got a pulse," the paramedic said.

Hot shot gasped for air and opened his eyes. "He's starting revive let's get him to the hospital fast." the paramedic said. 

Hot shot was placed on gurney.  Heatwave picked up Roxy the rhino which was dropped and put it on the gurney with Hot shot. "Take it easy son," Heatwave said. He went into the ambulance with Hot shot. 

Heatwave called Quickshadow at work and told her what is going on. Quickshadow was in shock her son had a heart emergency. Quickshadow found Dr. Runkel. "My son just suffered a sudden cardiac arrest good thing my husband and neighbor reacted so quickly when it happened. Hot shot's been taken here right now," Quickshadow said.

"Okay team prepare the CICU we got a patient age six with heart defects who suffered a sudden cardiac arrest." Dr. Meyer said.

Hot shot was taken off the ambulance and taken to the ER. There Hot shot was being evaluated. Hot shot was scared and was crying. "It's okay son," Heatwave said.

"Okay he seems tired and sore, but he is responding," the ER doctor said. 

They did an electrocardiogram and an echocardiogram. They wanted to make sure Hot shot was doing alright. Dr. Runkel and the other members of Hot shot's care team took a look. "Hot shot's stenosis is has regrown more and it is thick layer of scar tissue, and to make matters worse he's developed an arrythmia," Dr. Runkel said. "Also a few problems which require medication, we can start but if that does improve we'll place in a implanted cardiac defibrillator." she said. "For now Hot shot needs to rest and recover in CICU and prepare for another open heart surgery," she said. 

Then Dr. Runkel told Heatwave and Quickshadow the findings of the test. "The stenosis has regrown some more and all of it is scar tissue, he needs medication for a few things, he has developed an arrhythmia, he will need medicine for that if the medicine doesn't help the arrhythmia we will put in an implanted cardiac defibrillator that will also function as a pacemaker," she said. "We will do another open heart surgery a bit later down the road but right now he needs to rest and rehabilitate and get strong again Hot shot is very out of it and I think he should stay here for a while." she said. "It has been nearly a year since his first surgery so I want to wait until May to have his second one done," she said. "Hot shot needs to be hear for a few months to rest recover and rehabilitate," she said.

"Thank you for telling us," Heatwave said.

"I was worried his heart issues would take a turn for bad again," Quickshadow said. "But he's in good hands here and I trust you all," she said. "You all are good doctors here who put children first," she said.

"We will do what we can Quickshadow," Dr. Runkel said.

Hot shot was now in CICU and saw his parent come in. "It's going to be okay now Hot shot," Quickshadow said.

"What happened?" Hot shot asked.

"You had a sudden cardiac arrest that is what happened," Heatwave said. "I have to give you CPR," he said. "Our neighbor called 911 and the paramedics came and used a defibrillator to help your heart start beating again," he said. "Then you were brought here to the hospital," he said.

"You're stenosis which is the block grew some more and your developed an arrythmia which is an abnormal heart beat." Quickshadow said. "You will need to start take medication for a few things and the arrythmia," she said. "You will rest and get your strength back for a few months and then you will have another open heart surgery and stay here for a few more days again and then go home," she said. "There is a chance you might need an implanted cardiac defibrillator put in to help you," she said. "So your heart problems have gone from very mild to worse again," she said. "Some times that is they way it is with heart defects." she said. "But you are in good hands here," she said.

Hot shot was surprised but he knew he was going to get the best of care here. Hot shot for now needed to rest and get strong again. It would take sometime before his next surgery. He was going to need to rest and get strong. He was also going to need therapy to rebuild his strength again. Hot shot was ready to face it and take care of his special heart.