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Bus driver surprises student with decorated school bus in honor of her birthday

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Bus driver surprises student with decorated school bus in honor of her birthday
Courtesy Kathleen Hopson
ByNicole Pelletiere
April 12, 2019, 5:19 PM

A school bus driver has pulled out all the stops to make one of her little passengers feel special on her birthday.

Arletha Sherman, 64 of Jacksonville, Florida, decorated her school bus this week in honor of Anna Hopson's fifth birthday.

"She's touched my heart," Sherman told "Good Morning America" of Anna. "She never complains. She has the most beautiful smile and it inspired me to do something for her."

Anna Hopson is a pre-kindergarten student at Sabal Palm Elementary School in Jacksonville, Florida. Anna has a progressive neuromuscular disorder called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which causes nerve damage mostly in the arms and legs, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Anna Hopson, 5, a student at Sabal Palm Elementary School in Jacksonville, Fla., celebrated her birthday with her bus driver, Arletha Sherman, on April 10, 2019.
Courtesy Kathleen Hopson

Mom Kathleen Hopson told "GMA" that Anna, who has been using a wheelchair for the last six months, rides Sherman's wheelchair-accessible bus.

"Anna’s pretty independent and she’s been riding the bus without a parent since she was 3 years old," Hopson said. "Arletha [Sherman] is an excellent bus driver and a very caring person. She loves all the kids that she drives and always goes above and beyond to make them feel safe and happy on the bus."

Anna Hopson, 5, has a progressive neuromuscular disorder called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
Courtesy Kathleen Hopson

Hopson said Sherman gave a princess gown and tiara for Anna. When Anna boarded the bus on April 10, it had been decorated with streamers and a "Happy Birthday" banner.

"[S]he looked around and asked, 'Is this all for me?'" Hopson recalled. "Anna was thrilled and surprised."

PHOTO: Arletha Sherman, 64, of Jacksonville, Fla., is pictured with pre-kindergartener Anna Hopson, 5, on April 10, 2019. Sherman decorated the school bus Anna rides  for her birthday.
Arletha Sherman, 64, of Jacksonville, Fla., is pictured with pre-kindergartener Anna Hopson, 5, on April 10, 2019. Sherman decorated the school bus Anna rides for her birthday.
Courtesy Kathleen Hopson

Sherman said some of the children on the bus sang "Happy Birthday" to Anna. Local news stations reported on the story after Anna's aunt shared photos of the surprise on social media, Sherman said, adding that Anna is going to serve as flower girl in her July 27 wedding.

Sherman hopes Anna's story encourages other bus drivers to spread kindness to children.

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