5th Grade Girl Saves Bus Driver's Life After Recognizing Something Was Wrong

October 30, 2026

A quick-thinking fifth grader sprang into action when she realized her school bus driver was struggling to breathe.

Her decision to call her dad for help may have saved the driver's life.

KCRG-TV9 / Bella Scott (right)

Bella Scott was riding home from Viola Gibson Elementary School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, when she noticed something unusual about her bus driver, Christine Huston.

Christine wasn't acting like herself. She was coughing repeatedly, wheezing, and having trouble speaking. Even her voice sounded different.

Rather than ignore what was happening, Bella grabbed her phone and called her father.

She called him several times, carefully explaining what she was witnessing and describing exactly where the bus was so he could find them.

Fortunately, her dad was nearby. He quickly made his way to the bus and immediately recognized that something was seriously wrong.

"When I saw the golf cart, I'm like, is that your dad? That's your dad!" Christine recalled. "That's when I realized I really need help."

Bella's father called 911, and emergency medical personnel soon arrived to help Christine, who was experiencing a severe asthma attack that was making it difficult for her to breathe or speak.

For Christine, the experience was terrifying.

"Coughing fits is one thing, but being unable to breathe was very traumatic and scary for me," she said.

Bella admitted she was frightened, too, but knew she couldn't just sit back and watch.

"You can't just watch that happen without doing anything," she said. "I'm proud of myself for doing all that stuff."

And Christine is incredibly grateful that she did.

"I would say she saved my life. She really did," Christine said.

"Not all heroes wear capes. She had a cell phone in a backpack. And she called her hero, which is her dad. He saved my life too. It meant a lot."