Little All-Star and All-Star BFFS Strong Heart Warriors

Chapter 3

Hot shot woke up early this morning, his mother and father woke him up. Hot shot was not happy about it. "Why are you waking me up so early?" Hot shot asked.

"Today is your pre-op visit," Quickshadow said. "They are going to make sure you are ready for surgery tomorrow," she said.

"Oh," Hot shot said. Hot shot grabbed Roxy the rhino. Then got ready to go. Hot shot followed his parents to the car and got in his car seat. Hot shot was nervous and scared. But having Roxy the rhino helped him not feel so scared. Quickshadow had made Roxy the rhino look like a heart patient a few days ago. His mother made Roxy herself for Hot shot's fourth birthday. Then as of recently she embroidered a heart on the left side of Roxy's chest and embroidered a heart awareness ribbon on heart left hind foot. Then dressed her as heart patient in hospital pjs.

"Roxy has the same heart problem as you," Quickshadow told him. "She is going through what you are going through," she said. "When you have surgery and get a scar she will go through surgery and get a scar," she said.

"Cool," Hot shot said. Hot shot was now holding on to her more than ever. Hot shot waiting for his turn for the pre-op check. Hot shot saw his new friends there at the clinic. "I found out I have heart defects that got diagnosed late and I need surgery," he said.

"Me too" Hoist said.

"Same here," Medix said.

"Me as well," Whirl said.

"Same for me too," Wedge said.

They were surprised but they got over that quickly and began to play to try to get their minds off things. Then Hot shot's turn came and Hot shot wasn't to sure what to expect. He was holding on to Roxy the rhino, who was now Roxy the heart rhino. Then the nurse did something she saw Roxy the rhino and saw Hot shot was looking a bit nervous. So before checking Hot shot's blood pressure, temperature, height and weight she did so to Roxy. "See it is done just like that," the nurse told him. Then she checked on Hot shot and he was relaxed for it.

"Okay Hot shot we are going to do an electrocardiogram and an echocardiogram to check on a few things," The nurse said. "We will even do a chest x-ray." She told him. "This will help the doctors get an idea of what your heart is doing before your heart surgery," she said.

"Okay," Hot shot said nervously.

Then the nurse did each test on Roxy before doing it to Hot shot. Hot shot wasn't feeling so scared seeing that, it helped him feel better and relax. Hot shot remembered to stay calm and still before each test.

"Okay Hot shot I am going to take some blood now," The nurse said. "It might hurt a little," she told him.

Hot shot let her take his arm. He closed his eyes and gave Roxy the rhino a one armed squeeze. Then Hot shot opened his eyes. He saw the nurse had collected the blood. Then she took out the needle. Then a bandage was placed on Hot shot's arm. "There you go all done," the nurse told him. "You are a very brave boy," she told him.

"That wasn't so bad," Hot shot said.

"Okay you still have a few doctors to see," the nurse said.

Hot shot saw the members of his care team. He received some check ups and talked to the doctors. Hot shot then talked to Dr. McKenzie who was going to be doing his surgery. "Okay Hot shot everything is checking out just fine," Dr. McKenzie said. "You can't eat or drink anything after bedtime tonight, so no breakfast tomorrow," he said. "It is because surgery can only be done when someone has an empty stomach," he told him.

"Okay," Hot shot said. Hot shot really didn't mind his tummy was doing too many backflips to even think about food. Hot shot was nervous and scared about it but was ready to be brave.

Hot shot was then able to go home. Hot shot was helping his parents pack a few things to go to the hospital that night. "What do we need to pack?" Hot shot asked.

"We need to pack things like comfy clothes," Quickshadow said.

Hot shot grabbed his Pokemon PJs, some socks, some of his soft pants, a few t-shirts and his Pikachu slippers. "Very good," Quickshadow said. "We also need to pack a few things for you to do," she said.

Hot shot packed a couple of coloring books, his crayons, his markers, his tablet, his tablet charger, his firetruck, and few picture books.

"Also things for comfort," Quickshadow said. "Like pillows, blankets and stuffed animals," she said.

Hot shot packed pillow, his Pikachu blanket, Roxy the rhino and a couple of other stuffed animals. "We also want to pack things like pictures of loved ones," Quickshadow said.

Hot shot packed a picture of Fireplug. "Anything else?" Hot shot asked.

"Your toothpaste, toothbrush and hairbrush," Quickshadow said.

"Okay," Hot shot said packing them. "Is that everything?" he asked.

"That's everything," Quickshadow said.

"I am keeping Roxy with me because I sleep with her at night," Hot shot said.

"I understand that," Quickshadow said. "Well try to get some sleep Hot shot you have a big day tomorrow and you need your rest," she said.

"Okay," Hot shot said.

Hot shot went to bed and was very nervous and scared. Fireplug hopped into bed with Hot shot to say if you need me I am here. Hot shot felt happy Fireplug was with him. Fireplug was being a comfort to Hot shot right now. Hot shot hugged Roxy the rhino close and fell asleep. Hot shot was hoping all was going to be alright tomorrow and the surgery was going to go well.

Some packages came in for Hot shot that day. Heatwave and Quickshadow knew they were get well soon presents from family and family friends. So they wrapped them up in bags and boxes and put them in a bag with some of their stuff and not in the bag with Hot shot's stuff. They wanted him to see the presents when he was full awake aware after the surgery. They were also going to get him get well presents too, but they were going to get them from the hospital gift shop after he comes out of surgery. They were hoping the surgery was going to go well. They knew Hot shot was strong and could handle it.

Hot shot was having a bit of restless sleep that night. It wasn't easy to have restful sleep. Hot shot never had surgery before let alone on his heart. Hot shot was worried about what might go wrong. Hot shot was hoping everything was going to be alright. Hot shot just held Roxy the rhino very close and slept with her in his arms and tried to get as much rest as possible. He was still worried about tomorrow but it was nothing he couldn't handle with the love of his family.