MAINEVILLE, Ohio — Each day, when Tony McHale drove his school bus route past the home of Tony Way, he'd honk his horn to boost his friend's spirits.
Way has been battling cancer for five years, and Little Miami Schools said that fight reached a critical point recently.
Although McHale doesn't drive that bus anymore, the new driver, Randy Hurst, continued the tradition of honking in support of Way as the yellow bus passed his home.
The district said eventually the children riding the bus each day caught on and grew curious about why their bus driver honked outside the same home each day.
When McHale told them, the district said the kids wanted to help raise Way's spirits too — so they hatched a plan.
First, McHale told Way to sit outside and, as the bus passed, the children shouted, cheered and waved out the window.
Then, when the children wanted to cheer again, McHale came prepared with art supplies. The children made signs and get well cards with markers on colored paper. This time, when the bus came to Way's home, it didn't pass, it stopped and the students held their signs out, cheering "Get well, Tony," the district said.
"Their sincere love moved my heart," said Way. "Pulling away, they continued to wave and yell to me to get better."
The moment was recorded on video and Way can be heard thanking the children for their support, posted by the school district on social media.
Please enjoy this heartwarming moment courtesy of LM bus 38 as they spread a message of love and hope to a Maineville man battling cancer.
To read the full story:https://t.co/fVXhWvJDZU pic.twitter.com/511uACZj8D— Little Miami Schools (@LM_Schools) October 17, 2023
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