A Bus Full of Kids Have Come to Love "the Grandma in the Window"

Rarely is it heard that a bus driver greets all 90 student passengers by their first name every day. It's even more unusual that a 93-year-old woman waves to the bus full of kids from her window every school day as they pass. Known as "the grandma in the window," Louise Edlen has made bus #7 feel like family for five years. Although Louise often forgets her daughter's name, she always remembers her morning ritual that makes the kids "feel really special."

A few weeks ago, however, grandma was not seen from her window for a few days. "It was kind of heartbreaking because she was always there," said seventh grader Actin Bandewerfhorst. Bus driver Carol Mitzelfeld learned that she had a stroke and visited Louise at a rehabilitation center with flowers. The next morning, Carol and the kids saw a "Thank You" sign from her window. And in return, they blew up a large photo of all them waving from inside the bus, which Carol brought to her.

Louise's throat is partially paralyzed from the stroke, but her husband of 53 years explained how important the children are. "It means everything in the world to her," said her husband Dave Edlen. "It gives her something to look forward to every day."

The children will continue to miss grandma until she recovers and returns home soon as expected. Such a simple and sweet gesture as a daily wave has inspired a community of comfort that we wish was present on every bus!