Discovering who are true friends are

There are times in our lives when we realize who around us is really important in our lives.  For me, it often comes in times when I need help or when something has gone horribly wrong in my life.  My family has had to face a "road bump" over the past two weeks - certainly not the first or the last one for us - but unexpected and poorly timed all the time.
It's in this time, that I've realized how much family and friends care about my family - and seen which friends are the ones I can truly count on.
On the two hour ambulance ride from Pocono Medical Center to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, it was my friend Heather that I was texting for support.  It was Heather who texted me every few hours over the next three days while I camped out in my son's hospital room to check in, and send him a Sponge Bob balloon that showed us the first smile we'd seen in days.
It was my friend Courtney who sent me messages to check in, and helped my co-workers send a bunch of balloons to my son when we were sent home from CHoP.  My friend Kelly sent a "Not Bored Anymore" jar from Land of Nod full of crafts and activities to keep my son entertained.  My parents and father-in-law all sent books.  My sister and her husband brought coloring books, puzzles, and movies. My fabulous sister-in-law thrilled my son with a box of stickers and toys. My friend Carolyn stopped by with toys, and then with a delicous homemade dinner for my family.  This doesn't even take into account the text messages and emails that we get daily to check in and see how we're doing. And it's not about what people brought or sent - it's that so many people took the time to show that they care and to give support to us. 
This is amazing to me, because for years while living here, Joe and I found it so hard to make friends as adults.  Sure, we had friends from work, but nothing like the friendships that we had and saw our parents have as we grew up in a small town.  But now I realize how wrong we were.  We do have a support network here - it's just sad that it takes a bad time to show us the good.