Brave and Wonderful Little All-star and BFFs Heart Warrior Journey

Chapter 2

Hot shot is a little boy who was born with a heart that didn't work right. Hot shot has had several surgeries and cardiac catheterizations to help make his heart work like it should. Hot shot is four years old right now. Hot shot will turn five in November. Hot shot is a very happy and loving little boy. He loves to run, jump, climb and play although he often has trouble doing so because of his heart. 

"Remember to take it easy son," Heatwave said. "You don't want to push your heart too hard," he said. 

"Okay daddy," Hot shot said.

"That's right poppet your heart is very special because it has had a lot of repairs," Quickshadow said. "You don't want to push your mended little heart too hard," she told him.

"Okay mummy," Hot shot said. Hot shot was used to hearing it and knew his parents wanted what was best for his heart. However a few days later in March Hot shot came to his parents out of breath. "I don't feel so good," he said. 

"What's wrong?" Quickshadow asked.

"My chest hurts and I feel tired and weak," Hot shot said. 

"I think we should make an appointment with your cardiologist Dr. Horn right away," Quickshadow said. "Then she will do tests to see what is going on," she said.

Quickshadow and Heatwave took Hot shot to see Dr. Horn a few days later. "Hello Hot shot how are you today?" Dr. Horn asked. 

"I feel weak, tired and my chest hurts," Hot shot answered.

"I am sorry to hear that," Dr. Horn said. The listened to Hot shot's heart. "Okay I think we need to do another EKG and another ECHO," she said. "I also want a cardiac MRI done and a cardiac catheterization done too," she said. "Then we can go forward with what to do once the team and I look at his heart," she said.

"Okay," Quickshadow said. 

"Do what you need to do," Heatwave said. 

Hot shot was hooked up to the EKG and stayed very still and cuddled with Roxy the rhino. Then the test was over. "Very good now we have the graph of your heart," the nurse named Jessie said. "Now it's time for your ECHO," she said.

"Okay," Hot shot said. Hot shot was hooked up to a couple of wires to ECHO machine and gel was put on his chest. The lights were dim too and Hot shot stayed nice and still. The nurse took many pictures of his heart at different angles. Then after about 55 minutes it was over.

"Okay Hot shot we got some good measurements and pictures," Jessie said. "Now it is time for your cardiac MRI," she told him.

Hot shot followed Jessie to another room. There Hot shot changed into a hospital gown and got an IV for something called contrast. Both him and Roxy were scanned for metal. "Okay you two are clear," the radiographer named Leo said. "Now it is time for your cardiac MRI," he said.

Hot shot laid down on the bed and the bed went into the MRI. Hot shot was watching a movie while the MRI was happening. The contrast when it went in didn't hurt at all. It did make him feel warm though. Hot shot stayed nice and still. He was good at following directions. Hot shot's cardiac MRI only took about 55 minutes. 

Hot shot was then taken to get his cardiac catheterization. Hot shot was made to fall asleep for it so he wouldn't feel a thing. Then once it was it was done Hot shot had a band aid. 

Dr. Horn knew Hot shot's heart problems were getting worse and worse since October of last year four months after his fifth heart surgery. He was in heart failure October and they were trying to control it with medicine for heart failure. She looked at the tests and could see things seemed to be getting much worse. "I would like Hot shot to have a blood test," Dr. Horn told his parents.

Hot shot got his blood drawn and gave Roxy the rhino a big squeeze when it happened. Hot shot was wondering what was going on.

Dr. Horn looked at Hot shot blood test along with the other tests. "Okay looks like Hot shot's heart failure is getting worse and the medicine doesn't seem to be helping, plus if we give surgery I know his heart is failing due to so many open heart surgeries," Dr. Horn said. "Which means Hot shot has one option left," she said.

"I know what that option is and that is a heart transplant," said a transplant cardiologist named Dr. Pokey. "We need to talk to Hot shot's parents and tell them what is going on," he said.

"Good idea," Dr. Horn said. Dr. Horn came into the room with Dr. Pokey. "I have some bad news, Hot shot's heart failure which was discovered last October is not improving it is getting worse," she said. "The medicine is not helping Hot shot, and more open heart surgery really won't help," she said.

"What do you recommend?" Heatwave asked.

"Hot shot's only option is heart transplant," Dr. Pokey said. "I am Dr. Pokey I am a pediatric transplant cardiologist and I specialize in things like this and from what I saw from the tests, Hot shot needs a new heart," he said. 

"What is a heart transplant?" Hot shot asked.

"A heart transplant is when we take out a sick and failing heart and put in a new heart," Dr. Pokey said. "So Hot shot you need to have a new heart," he said.

"Oh," Hot shot said. 

"We are going to send in the test results and see if Hot shot can be approved for a new heart," Dr. Pokey said. "Then once approved Hot shot will be listed and then it is a waiting game until the heart arrives," he said.

Once the results of the tests were sent in a call came in and Hot shot was approved. Hot shot was priority 1A which is very critical. Hot shot was going to have come back to the hospital sometimes for infusions of IV medication to help his heart until he can get a transplant. He was also going to have to come in for regular check ups and tests. There was also a chance that some time Hot shot might even have to be admitted to the hospital to wait for his new heart. They were just going to have be patient. 

Hot shot met a few new people who were now going to be apart of his team. Dr. Pokey who was his transplant cardiologist. Dr. Starri who was going to do the heart transplant when the time came. Megan the transplant coordinator. Hot shot was amazed he had more people added to his team. 

Hot shot went home and his parents called the family and told them what was going on. Hot shot was going to need a new heart and was going to get one hopefully soon. Hot shot was going to have to wait for his new heart and he was wondering when and how it was going to happen.