chapter 12
Hot shot had just started treatment for cancer. Everyone is being supportive. Hot shot was currently in the hospital getting some treatment done and he was missing his home, family and friends. Hot shot was sad it had been almost two and half weeks since he was home. Today he was going to get a Chemo treatment. Hot shot was okay with that and he was losing his color quite rapidly.
Hot shot was plenty worried about what others would think or say about it. He saw his color was almost completely gone. Hot shot was getting hooked up to the IV of with the chemo. He was relaxing he still allowed Roxy to go first. Because he was feeling uneasy about it still. Many of the kids with cancer liked his Rhino Roxy. They said they wanted a cancer rhino too.
The parents asked where they could get one. "My mom made it for me," Hot shot said. "Hannah and her family stitched Roxy together for me when I first came to earth and my mom made her into the cancer rhino." he said.
They saw Hightemp and asked if it was possible for her and Hannah's family to make more cancer Rhinos for their children because they are in awe of Roxy. Hightemp told Hannah's family about and they said yes. They worked together and made several Rhinos even many people in the town helped by making rhinos following the pattern Hannah's mom made.
Then they made bandannas and got tubing like the hospital uses for the CVCs and made PJS for them and fixed them up and made several cancer rhinos. By the middle of the November they had made over 400 Rhinos. Hot shot's color was now gone but he spirit wasn't broken. He was out of the hospital and would be soon well enough to go back to school.
Hot shot was currently at home. Many of his friends came to visit.
Meanwhile at school Scorch had somethings on his mind. He was still very upset about Hot shot being sick.
"Hey Scorch how could you let them score 6 times?" Wedge asked.
They were playing a game of cube. "The sun was in my optics besides it's just a game," Scorch said.
"I know but it was kind of embarrassing," Wedge admitted.
"Besides winning this game won't make Hot shot better am I the only one who understands that?" Scorch said.
Meanwhile Blaze came up to Scorch. "Hey I am planning a party and it will start at 5:00," Blaze said.
"I'm not going," Scorch said.
Later Blaze was with his parents. "I can hardly believe Scorch turned down coming to my party he's been so gloomy lately," Blaze said.
"I can understand that with Hot shot being sick." His father said. "How do you feel about this?" He asked.
"Fine," Blaze said.
A bit later Hoist and Toughway were headed for Hot shot's home at the firehouse. They saw Scorch sitting on the steps of his house. Scorch looked pretty gloomy.
"You alright?" Hoist asked.
"I'm worried about Hot shot," Scorch said.
"We all are how about you come with us we are going to see him," Toughway said.
"No I have things to do," Scorch said and went back inside.
Blaze joined them and they made it to the firehouse. Hot shot was sitting on the couch relaxing.
"Hi guys good to see you," Hot shot said when they came up.
"It's good to see you too," Hoist told him.
They were talking for a bit.
"I love your jacket it's so cool," Blaze said.
"Thanks it's just one of things I have been trying out until my color comes back." Hot shot said.
"Your color is gone?" Blaze asked.
"Yes," Hot shot answered.
"It's a side effect of the medicine but his color will come back," Hoist explained.
"Hot shot I had no idea you were so..." Blaze started to say.
"Sick? Well cancer is no picnic, but I'm determined to get better," Hot shot told him.
Then two days later Hot shot was well enough to go back to school.
Hot shot made it to the bus stop and had Roxy in his hands. His friends saw him and they were happy to see him. "Hot shot you've been gone a long time are you better?" Scorch asked.
"No I still have cancer but I am well enough to go to school," Hot shot said. He was wearing a yellow jacket.
"I'm sorry I didn't visit you I was just worried and well.." Scorch said.
"Don't worry I understand I know for a fact it can be scary to see someone you care about when they are sick," Hot shot said.
The bus came and they all climbed on board. Hot shot sat down with his friends.
"So how are things Hot shot?" Medix asked.
"Well I am upset I lost my color and am trying many different kinds of jackets, ponchos and electronic paint jobs to find what style I like best to cover up the fact I have no color," Hot shot said. "But I am feeling really good today and the doctor says I'm doing great," he added.
"That's good to hear," Hoist said.
"Yes everyone is looking forward to seeing you in class," Whirl said.
"Yeah it's really exciting," Wedge said.
They made it to school. Hot shot and his friends were starting to head inside when a kid saw his jacket slip off. "Hey look everyone a bleachy bot!" he said laughing.
"You lunkhead what's the matter with you?" Wedge asked getting angry.
"Me? What's the matter with him he's all bleached white he's got no color," the bot said laughing.
Wedge grabbed him by the chest plate. "Hot shot's got Ewing's sarcoma!" Wedge shouted.
"Yeah," Whirl said.
"That's cancer, I bet you heard of cancer," Medix said.
"He's been in the hospital," Hoist said.
"He's been getting Chemotherapy to help him get better!" Wedge said. "It makes his metal lose his color! Does that make you happy?!" he asked. "Would like to go through what's he's gone through think about it," he snapped.
Hoist picked up Hot shot's jacket and gave it too him.
"I'm sorry," the bot said.
Hot shot went to class and sat down. All his friends greeted him they were so happy to see him. Hot shot was glad to see all of his friends again.
Then December rolled around. Hot shot was soon going to have to stay in the hospital again. It was about a week until Christmas Hot shot was going to have to stay in the hospital during the holiday.
Hot shot got ready and was soon sitting in his hospital bed. He saw many of his hospital friends. Icewind was there and Hot shot was happy to see her and his other hospital friends.
Hot shot was seeing many things there at the hospital. His father was with him. Then a social worker came up and said Hot shot qualifies for a wish from a make wish. Hot shot can have a wish of his come true.
Hot shot was told he could make a wish for something. He could wish to have certain item, be certain thing, to meet someone, to go some where or have something special done.
Hot shot loved animals and he wanted one thing. While in the hospital he fell in love with the a picture books series called Sebastian's Roo and he fell in love with the Newfoundland breed. "I want a Newfoundland puppy" Hot shot said.
"I think a puppy is a good idea," Heatwave said. "You have been handling this like a champ, and you have been doing all you can to keep up with your daily life, I say a puppy is a good wish," he said.
"Yes and the puppy is going to be for all of us," Hot shot said. "I want us to train it to help in rescue work." he said.
"Well Newfoundland's were bred for water rescues," the nurse said.
"That's pretty cool," Heatwave said.
Hot shot hoped his wish would come true soon.
When Christmas day came the Maxstons, his parents, little brother, and the rest of the rescue bots came to see him. Even his friends came to see him they all brought presents for him.
"Merry Christmas Hot shot," Hannah said.
"Thanks guys," Hot shot said.
Soon it the winter turned to spring. Hot shot was eager to get back to school. He saw his friends at the bus stop. "Hey guys," Hot shot said.
"It's great to see you Hot shot," Whirl said.
"You have been gone for a while," Medix said.
"How are you feeling?" Hoist asked.
"Much better," Hot shot said.
"We are glad your back," Wedge said.
"Yes it's hard seeing your empty seat when you are gone for a treatment, or staying at the hospital." Scorch said.
"I'm glad to be back," Hot shot said.
Hot shot was glad to be back and school and continue learning. Hot shot enjoyed that his friends were supporting him. Side swipe his little brother was worried about his big brother and often was scared for him.
Side swipe was hoping his brother was going to be okay.
Soon the last day of school came and Hot shot was spending time with his friends. They were really happy to be together.
Then in the early part of summer vacation Hot shot took a turn and had to stay in the hospital for a long time he was feeling really sick and his leg was very painful. After some tests and medicine Blacklight his oncologist said he need his leg amputated slightly above the knee to help keep the cancer from spreading further. Soon Hot shot was being prepped for surgery.
Hot shot was plenty scared but knew this was for the best to beat the cancer. Soon Hot shot was taken into surgery and his leg was removed. Hot shot woke up in bed unsure of what happened at first. He felt sleepy and his left leg he couldn't feel anything around the upper part where his knee should be. The doctor told him the amputation was success and he would soon get a replacement leg that will be specially made and he will be able to walk around soon. But it should be ready after his treatment was over.
Hot shot managed to smile. It made him happy. Later that day Hot shot got a pair of forearm crutches to walk with and he was happy to be able to move again. The crutches were his favorite color yellow. He put stickers on his crutches. They looked great. Hot shot was eager to show his friends his crutches. But he had to learn to use them first.
His friends came to see him a couple of days after his surgery. Hot shot was already starting to feel better and he was getting a chemo treatment today. They came in the room with smiles and hugs. "It's so great to see you guys," Hot shot said.
They brought some presents too. "Good grief guys I am running out of space to put all the stuff you are bringing me," Hot shot said.
"We just hope you get well," Wedge said.
"Yeah," the others said.
"You want to see what they did?" Hot shot asked.
"Okay," they said.
Hot shot moved his blanket and showed them.
"Where's your left leg?" Hoist asked.
"They took it off," Hot shot told them.
"Why did they do that?" Whirl asked him.
"Because the cancer was starting to advance up my leg and to help with the treatment they amputated my leg." Hot shot explained.
"That's quite a change how are you feeling about it?" Medix asked.
"Well I am upset that I lost my leg and I won't get my replacement leg until sometime after my treatment is over." Hot shot explained. "I got some crutches over there I got to choose the type of crutches and the type I chose comes in many different colors and I got to choose the color." Hot shot said.
His friends saw his the crutches. They were surprised by them and amazed.
"Today I am going to learn to walk with them," Hot shot explained.
The nurse came in a bit later and saw the chemo IV was empty and soon gave Hot shot medication to ease his tank. Then she grabbed the crutches and handed them to Hot shot to practice walking with.
Hot shot had a bit of trouble with it at first. But he kept trying and then he got the hang of it.
Then it was time for school to start again and Hot shot was looking forward to first grade. Hot shot got to meet his new teacher. Her name was Ms. Zonefire and she was very nice.
One the first day of school Hot shot struggled a bit to get up and down the stairs on the bus.
"Sorry," Hot shot said.
"Don't worry about it," said one of the kids on the bus.
"Everyone at school knows what you are going through and they are being very supportive," said another.
Hot shot made it to the classroom and sat down. Hot shot had a wide open seat like desk so he could move in and out of it easily.
"Everyone I'm sure you all are familiar with Hot shot who is battling cancer. So whenever he is at school and until he's ready for his replacement leg all of you have to take turns helping him. Such as one of you stay inside with him and play with him during recess and help him by carrying his lunch during lunch and help in other ways if he needs it," Ms.Zonefire said.
"Yes Ms.Zonefire." The class said.
A kid raised his hand.
"Yes Allout?" Ms.Zonefire said.
"What is cancer anyway?" Allout asked.
"Maybe Hot shot can explain," Ms. Zonefire said.
Hot shot got up and went to the front and of the class. "In all bodies even ours there are things called cells. They are so tiny you need a microscope to see them." Hot shot said. "There are different types of cells in the body and each one has a different job. To help something grow and to replace worn out cells they divide. So do it all and others not so much," he explained. "But my body is making a quite a few bad cells, they are making me sick, so cancer is when cells of the body go bad," he said. "These bad cells make more of themselves and cause problems. That is what cancer is," he said.
Then he went to his desk and sat down.
Hot shot was glad his old friends and new friends were taking turns helping him.
He still had to go to the hospital very often and had to keep up there with his school work.
There was still much of the battle left to fight but nothing he can't handle.