Hot shot was soon going to have his third heart operation. Hopefully it will be the last one he was going to need. Hot shot was helping his parents pack a few things. He helped his parents pack comfy clothes, slippers, socks, toys, a tablet and pictures of family and friends. Hot shot was kind of nervous. "Who will read to me in the hospital? Uncle Boulder usually reads to me who will do that while I am in the hospital?" Hot shot asked.

"I am sure the child life specialist would be happy to ready you story," Quickshadow said. "It will be about characters with a similar problem to yours but it will be a story meant for someone as young as you," she said.

"Okay," Hot shot said. Hot shot soon had Smashy the rhino and was ready to go. Hot shot was kind of nervous. They made it to Houston a few days before his surgery. Hot shot was kind of scared they were going to spend the days close to the doctor's office. "We are going to be staying in Houston for a while," Heatwave said. "We will be here for several days while you are recovering from your surgery, but once you are released from the hospital we can go home," he said.

"Oh boy," Hot shot said.

On the day before his operation Hot shot had several things checked at the hospital. They were checking his temperature, height and weight. They checked for germs, the measured how much oxygen is in his blood and his pulse. They took his blood pressure too. Then they did an ECG along with an ECHO and they also did a chest X-ray. Then Hot shot got a blood test he didn't like that too much. 

One the day of his operation Hot shot was taken to the hospital really early. Hot shot was hungry he wasn't allowed to eat before surgery. He wasn't too happy about that. Then Hot shot was in the hospital and brought to a room to wait. Hot shot had a lot of things checked again and got wiped down. Hot shot then had to change into a hospital gown. "I got puppies, kittens, and fish," the nurse said.

"Puppies," Hot shot said.

Hot shot then changed into the hospital gown. Then Hot shot got something called an IV. "This is IV might be one way for you to get medicine to make you fall asleep for the surgery, it will also help give other medicine while you are here," the nurse explained.

Hot shot met the anesthesiologist. "Hello Hot shot I will help make sure you stay asleep during the operation," the anesthesiologist said. "I will decide what kind of medicine is the best for you to help you sleep," he said. "It can either go in through your IV or you breathe it in," he said.

After talking for a bit it was decided what kind of Medicine Hot shot was going to have. "You are going to breathe it in Hot shot," the anesthesiologist said. "You can chose how the air smells we have a wide variety, we have vanilla, berry, apple, grape, cotton candy, cupcake, orange, lemon, and watermelon just to name some of them," he said.

"Vanilla," Hot shot said. "I love vanilla," he said.

"Okay," the anesthesiologist said.

Hot shot was then taken to the OR. Hot shot was now able to lay down on a huge bed and there were these huge lights shining above. Hot shot saw the doctors were all wearing these big masks and hats. It was to keep germs away. Hot shot had stickers put on his chest to help monitor him. The anesthesiologist put the mask on his face. "Just take breathe normally okay?" the anesthesiologist said.

"Okay," Hot shot said and began to breathe in the air from the mask. Hot shot soon began to feel very sleepy and soon he fell asleep. Hot shot was sleeping soundly. Then the doctors went right to work doing his heart surgery. Hot shot was dreaming that he was a brave firefighter and helping many people. 

Meanwhile the staff was keeping Heatwave and Quickshadow updated about what was going on. Soon the surgery was complete and Hot shot was moved to the CICU.

Hot shot woke up in CICU and he saw his parents there. "Hello Hot shot," Heatwave said.

"The doctor said you did great during surgery," Quickshadow said.

Hot shot couldn't talk at the moment due to a tube in his mouth helping him breathe. But never the less he was happy to see his parents. 

Hot shot was soon feeling better after a few days. He was soon moved to the floor where the regular in patient rooms were.

"I hope to go home soon," Hot shot said.

"You will," Heatwave said.

Soon Hot shot was able to go home. But he didn't feel like playing much at the moment. Because he still felt pretty sore and tired. Which was normal after having such a big surgery.

As the weeks passed Hot shot was feeling so much better and feeling like playing again. Then he went back for a check up to make sure he was healing well and that he was doing just fine. 

Hot shot was soon able to run around and play again. Hot shot was happy to be feeling so much better.

"I am so grateful things are going well for Hot shot now," Quickshadow said.

"I am too," Heatwave said.

"I do know there is a chance soon things can change he may need more help, but I hope it isn't too soon," Quickshadow said.

"I hope so too," Heatwave said. "All we can do is hope," he said. "But for now let's be grateful Hot shot is doing well now and focus on that," he said.

"You're right," Quickshadow said.

Hot shot was happy and healthy. He was a wonderful child who still had more of this journey ahead of him.