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

Chapter 3

Hot shot found out his heart condition was getting worse as time went on and he needed a new heart. Hot shot has  a lot of questions and is wondering how and when it will happen. Hot shot is wondering where his new heart will come from and such. Hot shot had so many questions for his team. 

Hot shot was also going to the hospital to get IV medication to help hold him off until transplant every few days. "I don't like getting the IVs they hurt," Hot shot said.

"I know you don't," Quickshadow said. 

"It might not be pleasant son but it will help," Heatwave said. 

Hot shot also had to go back and forth from the hospital for tests to check on how he was doing before transplant. Hot shot was also making sure to eat a very healthy diet which is what his dietitian wanted him to eat to get ready before transplant. 

Hot shot was doing his best to do what the doctors tell him to do. Hot shot was wondering when he was going to get his new heart and where it was going to come from.

But in September Hot shot's condition started to get worse. "Yes Dr. Horn? Hot shot's condition is getting worse," Quickshadow said. "he needs to be admitted to the hospital?" she said. "Okay we will bring him in to stay there," she said. 

They helped Hot shot pack a bag to he could be admitted to the hospital. Hot shot followed his parents to the car and got into his car seat. Hot shot had Roxy the rhino with him. Hot shot was holding on tight to Roxy the rhino. Hot shot was feeling very worried and scared. But he was going to be brave. Hot shot had a lot of questions right now still about his transplant. He didn't know when would be a good time to ask them.

Then after arriving at the hospital. Hot shot got admitted and got a hospital bracelet. Hot shot was taken to a CICU room to stay in. Hot shot was going to have to stay there for a while. Hot shot saw Dr. Pokey.

"I have questions," Hot shot said.

"Well I will try to answer them," Dr. Pokey said.

"Where will my new heart come from?" Hot shot asked.

"Your new heart will come from a donor," Dr. Pokey said. "It will come from someone who has died or won't wake up from a coma," he said. "Either the person themselves before they die decides to be a donor or the family of the person decides," he said. "Since your heart will come from a child it will be the family who decides," he said. 

"How will I stay alive when you take out my heart?" Hot shot asked.

"You will be put on a bypass machine like you were for your previous heart surgeries." Dr. Pokey said. 

"Will I be normal even with a heart transplant?" Hot shot asked.

"Yes," Dr. Pokey said.

"Can I go to school and play sports?" Hot shot asked.

"Yes you can but you need to wait three months after your transplant, but before you do sports you need to be cleared by your transplant team," Dr. Pokey said. 

"Can I go to fun places like malls or the zoo?" Hot shot asked.

"Yes you can, make sure you wear a mask for the first three months and then after three months you might not have to wear a mask anymore if your team says it is okay," Dr. Pokey said.

"Can I still be a kid?" Hot shot asked.

"Yes you can," Dr. Pokey said.

"How long do I have to wait?" Hot shot asked.

"It is hard to say some wait only a few days, others a few weeks, others wait for few months and some wait for a year or longer," Dr. Pokey said. "You have been currently waiting for six months, so it might be sooner or later you get your new heart," he said.

Hot shot felt better after having his questions answered. Hot shot began to spend time in the hospital. Hot shot was feeling many different things while in the hospital. Hot shot was wondering if feeling many big feelings while needing an organ transplant was normal. Hot shot was wondering if everything was going to be okay. He was wondering if feeling guilty was normal. Because he felt guilty about getting to live when someone else has died. He was also wondering if he could get into contact with the donor family. 

Hot shot was wondering many of these things. It had been a few days and Dr. Pokey was coming into check on Hot shot to see how he was doing. "Dr. Pokey is normal to feel many big feelings?" Hot shot asked.

"Yes it is normal to feel many different big feelings about stuff like this Hot shot," Dr. Pokey said. "It is nothing to be worried about," he said.

"Is it normal to feel guilty because you get live and someone else dies?" Hot shot asked.

"Yes it is perfectly normal," Dr. Pokey said. "Many people kids and adults feel that way," he said. "But the important thing to remember is the family gave you that heart," he said. 

"Okay," Hot shot said. "Is it possible to get into contact with the donor family?" he asked.

"Yes it is possible," Dr. Pokey said. "Many families are able to remain in contact with the donor families and become close," he said. "While some donor families want to keep what happened private," he said. "it depends on a lot of things," he said. "But if you want to get in contact with the family with your parents you can try too," he said. "For some donor families it helps them process the loss," he said.

"Okay," Hot shot said. Hot shot was feeling better now that his questions were answered. Hot shot was wondering when he was going to get his new heart. 

A couple of days later Hot shot met with Roxy the child life specialist. "Hot shot qualifies for a wish from make a wish," Roxy said. "I know he hasn't gotten a wish or been offered a wish from a wish granting organization so I referred him to make a wish and he will get a wish," she said.

"I heard of them they help sick kids and kids with certain medical conditions get wishes," Heatwave said.

"That's right they do," Quickshadow said. "That will make Hot shot very happy and give him something to look forward too," she said. 

"Wish?" Hot shot asked.

"You get one wish, you can use that wish to be something, or to go somewhere, or to meet someone, or to have something or to give back," Roxy said. "You only get one wish so you got to make sure it is something you really want," she said.

"Okay," Hot shot said.

"It normally takes a year before a wish is granted so you have time to decide and look forward to it," Roxy said.

"Okay," Hot shot said. Hot shot was happy he was getting a wish. Hot shot was going to do a lot of thinking before deciding on what his wish should be. But he was really looking forward to it. 

Right now there was time wait for it, just like there was time to wait for his new heart. But Hot shot wasn't going to give up hope that he was going to get it.