When Christine Huston began struggling to breathe behind the wheel of her school bus in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, she had no idea that the fifth grader sitting in the back would become her lifeline. What unfolded during that routine afternoon bus route from Viola Gibson Elementary School demonstrates how observant children can be in moments of crisis.
Bella Scott, just eleven years old, was heading home like any other day when she noticed something was seriously wrong with her bus driver. Huston was experiencing a severe asthma attack that was rapidly escalating beyond her control.
Recognizing the warning signs
The young student picked up on subtle but concerning changes in Huston’s condition. “She was like coughing a lot and like wheezing and she was like talking weird, like her voice sounded different,” Scott said. For Huston, the experience was overwhelming. “Coughing fits is one thing, but being unable to breathe was very traumatic and scary for me,” Huston explained.
Rather than freezing or assuming the adult would handle the situation, Scott immediately took action. She retrieved her cell phone from her backpack and repeatedly called her father, providing detailed information about the emergency. “I called my dad a few times and told him what was happening over and over again. And I described the location of where we were so, he could find us,” Scott said. “You can’t just watch that happen without doing anything. It was definitely scary. I’m proud of myself for doing all that stuff.”
A fortunate coincidence
In what can only be described as providential timing, Scott’s father happened to be outside collecting mail on a golf cart when his daughter’s calls came through. He quickly made his way to the bus location. When Huston spotted him arriving, the severity of her medical emergency became clear. “When I saw the golf cart, I’m like, is that your dad? That’s your dad! That’s when I realized I really need help,” Huston said.
Scott’s father immediately contacted 911, and emergency medical services arrived shortly thereafter to provide the critical care Huston required. The bus driver has no doubt about who deserves credit for her survival.
A life-saving response
“I would say she saved my life. She really did,” Huston 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,” she said.
The incident serves as a reminder that children are often more capable and aware than adults give them credit for. While many might have hesitated or assumed someone else would intervene, this young student recognized an emergency and acted decisively without waiting for permission or guidance.
Scott’s willingness to step up when someone needed help reflects an important principle from Philippians 2:4: “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
