Message five-year-old girl had for ‘hero’ bus driver who noticed something ‘not right’ when she was walking alone

A five-year-old girl who was saved from the side of the road by a heroic bus driver shared a heartfelt message as the two were reunited.

Adaline “Addy” Gonzalez was seen walking alone on a Harlem sidewalk while Luis Jimenez, 60, worked his morning shift as a New York MTA bus driver in September.

Now the couple has been reunited, giving Addy the chance to express her gratitude that someone watched over her.

She told him, “Thank you Luis for being my hero and saving my life.”

Addy had decided not to go to school so she could go to the pet store and buy a new pet fish after hers died that same day. She had not told her parents where she was going, but was noticed by Jimenez who sensed something was wrong.

The little girl had skipped school after her fish died with the plan to go to a pet store and buy a new fish

“My instincts as a father kicked in because if I see a child on the street who needs help, I would want someone to help one of my children or one of my grandchildren,” he previously said.

He had been watching Addy through the front window before finally deciding to stop, call his dispatcher, and have a passenger phone call 911.

She was reported missing by her school after failing to show up for class, which she had not done before.

Her mother, Julissa, told WABC, “We were totally scared. We didn’t know what to think. We know, we were terrified because that’s our little girl.”

The couple reunited with Addy’s family after Jimenez saved her as she walked alone on a Harlem sidewalk

Addy got her new fish and decided to name it after her rescuer and named the fish Luis

Addy was already ten blocks from her school before Jimenez saw her.

When he got to meet her this week, he says he couldn’t have been happier.

‘It gave me such a good feeling. My heart was beating. I couldn’t wait to meet her and her parents, because something like that should be celebrated. She was able to go home,” Jimenez said WABC.

To show her appreciation, Addy decided to do something super special.

‘I decided to name my new fish Luis. “I was excited and happy and it was perfect,” she said.

The young girl’s family also gave Jimenez a token of their appreciation, presenting him with a New York Jets hat that read “Addy’s Hero.”

Addy and her family gave Jimenez a New York Jets hat that read “Addy’s Hero” as a token of their appreciation

Addy’s father, Cesar Gonzalez, said, “It’s wonderful to meet Luis. …And thank God. Thank him. You know, [because of Jimenez] she is here with us today.”

Addy’s father, Cesar Gonzalez, told WABC, “It’s wonderful to meet Luis. …And thank God. Thank him. You know, [because of Jimenez] she is here with us today.”

The veteran bus driver is approaching his 26th year as a transit worker in NYC, working a variety of routes from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.

‘Driving in New York City is a perfect day. When I open that door, it’s like the world comes to me,” he said The art of doing.

He added: “I love my passengers. I want to give them the best ride, the best time and the best view of the city while I get them to their destination.”