chapter 4

It was morning in the hospital and today Hot shot was feeling pretty sick today so he didn't want to go to the playroom because today he wasn't feeling well. He didn't eat much at meal time. His mother was there and comforted him and assured him even though he was going to have days were he felt good he was also going to have days like today where he was going to feel sick. Hot shot was in pain so the nurse gave him some medicine to feel better. Hot shot was hugging Roxy the rhino for comfort.

The nurse took some blood samples to test and would check on him. When the day was over Hot shot slept like a champ through the night.

When Hot shot woke up in the morning he was feeling much better.

After about a couple of weeks in the hospital Hot shot noticed his mom was right about having good days and bad days.

Today he was taken to a part of the hospital. "Where are we going?" Hot shot asked the nurse.

"We are going to the part of the hospital to get your first radiation treatment the radiology oncologist chose the type of radiation you needed and scheduled for you to start today," the nurse said.

"Dr. Rhino said I also need surgery when will that happen?" Hot shot asked.

"It won't happen for many weeks," the nurse answered.

Hot shot got to meet the radiology part of the team and was waiting his turn to get his treatment. Hot shot's turn came and he laid down feet first with his special cushion and then they got all set. The machine started up and he heard some noise and then it was over. Then the tech came back in.

"That's it?" Hot shot asked.

"That's it," the tech said.

"I didn't feel a thing," Hot shot said.

"Well it took care of some of your cancer cells," the tech told him.

"Cool," Hot shot said.

Then Hot shot was back in his room. He was a bit tired from the radiation treatment and he laid in bed to watch TV quietly. Then Dr. Rhino came into check on him. "Hello Hot shot," Dr. Rhino said.

"Hi," Hot shot said. "I know I am not getting surgery for many weeks but what are you going to do during the surgery when it happens?" he asked.

"We are going to see if we can remove tumor while sparing your leg, but if not we can see if we can save some of the leg by amputating part of it. If that is not possible we will remove the whole leg," Dr. Rhino explained.

"Oh okay," Hot shot said.

"We will continue treatment with chemo and radiation after that for several more weeks or months and continue to do tests to make sure the cancer is not spreading and going into remission." Dr. Rhino said.

"Remission what is that?" Hot shot asked.

"It means the cancer is gone," Dr. Rhino said. "But it might be while until you going into remission so hang in there okay," he said.

Few more days passed the next week started. Hot shot has had radiation those passed few days and had a weekend break. Hot shot now has more chemo treatment to do. A Nurse named Ian slid a needle into the bump where the port was to give the treatment.

Hot shot was eating a snack during the chemo and then he went to the playroom taking the IV pole with him. He saw other kids there too. Many of them had cancer like him.

He met one boy with cancer in his brain and a girl with cancer in her blood.

The next day Hot shot's hair was starting falling out. He noticed it this morning on his pillow. On his pillow was quite a bit of hair. Hot shot also noticed it when he was brushing his hair a lot of the hair was falling on the ground and a lot of it was in his hair brush.

He also saw his hair fall out in clumps when he was just sitting there. The next morning Hot shot notice a lot of his hair was gone there was a lot of bald patches on his head. His hair was completely gone mostly because he wanted it to be done with had a nurse help him shave it off and it was kind of easy because the hair fell out as she started shaving. It was done before breakfast and one or both his parents come at breakfast time.

Hot shot ordered some breakfast and asked for a fruit smoothie go with his breakfast because his doctor wanted him to have something with more calories in it when he was checking on things during when the nurse was helping Hot shot shave the rest of his hair off.

Heatwave and Hightemp came in and saw Hot shot now had now hair. "It's a good thing I brought these today," Heatwave said showing him the hats. "Choose which one you want to wear today." he said. "I brought three different ones," he said. "The yellow one is special because it represents the fight against all types of bone cancer." he said.

"I will wear the yellow one today," Hot shot said. Hot shot took the hat from his dad and put it on and his mom showed him his picture in the mirror. "I like it and it soft and comfy." he said.

The nurse came in with Hot shot's breakfast which was cereal, fruit parfait with a berry smoothie. Hot shot ate it all. Hightemp nodded and rubbed his back. "Good boy you need to eat plenty when you get cancer treatment," Hightemp said.

"I know," Hot shot said. "My dietitian Dr. Larbon and Dr. Rhino my oncologist said that, Dr. Larbon wants me to eat high calorie foods, and ones with lots of carbs and calcium," he said.

"That's good and I saw with you breakfast you are try to follow orders which I am proud of." Hightemp said.

"Hot shot time for Radiotherapy treatment and then a couple of hours after that another chemo okay?" said nurse Liv.

"Okay," Hot shot said. Hot shot was taken to the radiation center and to get his radiation treatment. He was waiting his turn like many of the children he saw one kid who looked a little nervous. "Hi," Hot shot said.

"Hi," the kid said. "I just found out I have type of bone cancer called Ewing sarcoma in my right leg and the doctor's said I need radiation, chemotherapy and surgery to get better. I got this thing called a mediport put in my skin it looks like a bump. I am due to get my first chemo after this, I am a little scared even though today I am just getting a scan to find what type of radiation I need. I am nervous about the chemo and stuff." she said.

"I have Ewing sarcoma too in my left leg. Getting chemotherapy and radiation may have bad side effect but it helps you get better. You might lose your hair and it may be upsetting but it gives you a chance to show your style," Hot shot said.

"My style?" the girl asked.

"Yes you can wear wig, or be like me wear hat, or go bald and proud like some kids do, I just lost the last of my hair today," Hot shot said.

"Does it hurt?" the girl asked.

"For some kids it does, some it burns, others it tingles, a few like me it itches, and others do feel anything," Hot shot said.

"What about the port how do the access it for tests and medicines?" the girl asked.

"They access it with a special needle, called a huber needle, it doesn't hurt really it feels more like a little poke," Hot shot said. "But this way don't need so many shots. When the bag and pole are set up you can move around freely in the hospital. You can play, spend time with people in the hospital, eat, and go to the bathroom while the medicine is going in it can take several hours." Hot shot said.

"That doesn't sound so bad." the girl said.

"Hello Hot shot I see you met Override," the child life specialist named Nancy said.

"Hot shot has been helpful to me, I was bit scared but he explained things, now I don't feel so scared," Override said.

"Good work, Hot shot it's nice of you to help a fellow patient now would you two like to color before it's your turn?" Nancy asked.

"Yes," they said.

They were coloring when Hot shot was called. Hot shot went in and got his treatment done. It only took a few minutes. Hot shot headed back to his room to rest for a while. Hot shot was resting in his room when he got a surprise. He saw his grandparents who were his father's parents. "How is our little oldest grandson?" his grandma Flamezer asked.

"I am feeling pretty good today," Hot shot said.

"So Hot shot what do you do here besides get treatment? Lay around all day?" Grandpa Flamezer asked.

"No sometimes I draw, color, play my video games, watch tv, I sometimes play music with the child life specialist and other times I got to the playroom and play with the other kids and I eat meals and drink things like, milk, juice, water and soda." Hot shot said. "We get room service too so I can order snacks if I am hungry between meal times," he said.

"Well that's nice, we brought you something," Grandpa Flamezer said.

"We sure did," Grandma Flamezer said.

They gave Hot shot a plush dinosaur. "Thank you," Hot shot said.

Hot shot was happy his grandparents from his dad's side were there. Then a few minutes later his mother's parents came in. "Hi Grandma and Grandpa Tiven," Hot shot said.

"Hello Hot shot," Grandpa Tiven said.

"Here I made you these," Grandma Tiven said.

Hot shot opened it and saw his grandma Tiven knitted him three beanie hats. "Wow, there is a yellow striped one, one with red, yellow and orange stripes, and one with yellow and white stripes, thank you Grandma Tiven, they look great," Hot shot said. "I will put one of these hats on first thing tomorrow," he said. "I think I will even wear one of them when I go back to school first time back so my head can be warm without my hair." he said.

"I am glad you like them," Grandma Tiven said.

Hot shot was happy to see both sets of Grandparents. Side swipe came with his maternal grandparents.

"Big Brother I made you this in school," Side swipe said.

It was a hand made card. It said get well soon, and inside it said "Kick that cancer out of your body, big brother I love you."

Hot shot smiled at Side swipe. "Thank you Side swipe this is a nice card and I will kick cancer out of my body and show it who's boss." Hot shot said.

That made Side swipe happy. "Is it okay to hug you?" Side swipe asked.

"Yes it is, you can't catch cancer so hugs are alright, just use some of the hand sanitizer first okay, so I don't catch anything from you, I can catch things real easily right now," Hot shot said.

"Okay," Side swipe said and put on some hand sanitizer and hugged his brother.

October had end and November began. "Hot shot you are well enough to go home for a little while," Dr. Rhino said.

Hot shot was happy and excited. "We still need to do treatments and tests to check up on you and such, if ever we think you need to have stay here we will call your parents so you can pack your bags to come to the hospital and be comfortable here again for another long stay, because long hospital stays are part of the game," Dr. Rhino said.

Hot shot was happy to be home the next day he missed his bed and missed sharing a room with his little brother. During November Hot shot saw the doctors and got treatments. Then at the beginning of December Dr. Rhino notice Hot shot was need of another long hospital stay. So he called Hot shot's mother and told him what was going on and Hot shot needed a long hospital stay.

Hot shot was told to pack his bags. Hot shot packed a blanket, slippers, his pillow, his tablet, his Nintendo switch and it's games, a few toys, some of his hats and Roxy the rhino. "I'm all ready," Hot shot said.

"Great now let's go," Hightemp said.

Side swipe was left with a babysitter and Hightemp took Hot shot to the hospital. Hot shot was checked into the hospital and got a bracelet and chose some hospital PJs to wear. Hot shot changed into them and was shown to his room. Hot shot place his things in his room and laid down in the bed to relax.

Dr. Rhino told Hot shot he was most likely going to spend Christmas in the hospital. Hot shot sighed and said okay.

To be continued.