To start this new year, I’m going to share a story about someone who has been a part of our family’s life for over 8 years and has taken great care of our children each school day. He could use some help right now and I would love to be able to give back to him.

From the time Bella was in 4th grade until now, we have had the same intermediate school bus driver.

Bus 29, Mr. John.

Mr. John (as the kids call him) has driven my children to and from school for the past 8 or so years. In bad weather, early mornings, delays, early dismissals-he’s been always safe and always on time. (Sometimes even pulling on our street to wait for a certain someone who would be usually late) You can also find him sometimes buying a hot dog and cheering on the Southern Lehigh students at sporting events that he chooses to drive them to.

Next year, if we are lucky enough, he will start to drive my youngest for the next three years. He has kept my children safe and has been so kind to my family.

In March of 2025, John wasn’t feeling well, so after three weeks of taking over-the-counter medicine and it not helping, several people told him to go get a chest x-ray. It revealed that he had fluid buildup around his lungs.

He was sadly diagnosed with stage four lymphoma.

Over a short period of time, they drained about 12 L of fluid! When he finally started chemo treatments, the fluid stop building up. He did his chemo treatments throughout the summer. And then with some uplifting news, in September 2025, he finished his last treatment and rang the bell!

Unfortunately, chemo is very expensive, as most medical is, and his insurance company covered some, but not nearly enough. And now his medical bills have added up to almost $10,000.

If you could help make a difference in someone’s life today, make it Mr.

John. Any little bit will help and take some of the burden off of his shoulders. He’s got 100s of kids counting on him!