Our new neighbors helped us during an emergency. Now, 6 years later, they’re like grandparents to our children.

• On our first night, the flooding caused immeasurable stress, but our retired neighbor lent us a helping hand.

• The crisis led to unexpected friendships, and now our neighbors are like extended family.

Six years ago, my husband and I were ready to move into our dream home.

It was everything we hoped for: a quaint split-level apartment on a charming street in a beautiful neighborhood.

The move comes at a difficult time. I was 38 weeks pregnant with my fourth child and unable to participate in most physical labor. So, my tasks mostly consisted of folding, pointing, and giving commands from the couch.

As chaotic as it was, we had moved many times as a couple, so I thought I had a pretty good idea of ​​what to expect…. But there are many surprises waiting for us, such as disasters and communities.

Just one day after we moved, disaster struck

At the end of moving day, all that was left of our home was a bunch of bubble wrap and boxes. Although we were excited, we were also exhausted.

After a quick, casual meeting with our neighbors across the street, a lovely retired couple in their 60s, we left. My husband suggested that the girls and I sleep near my parents’ house while he continued packing.

The next morning, I immediately noticed that my parents were behaving strangely. I called my husband to ask but he didn’t answer either.

Finally, after cornering my mom in the kitchen, she admitted that she didn’t want to upset me, but there was an incident in the new house.

I pressed her again and again, and she finally told me the news: Our beautiful brand new home had been flooded with three inches of water overnight, and the garden-level basement was destroyed.

I am devastated by the loss, but also touched by the help our new neighbors have provided for us

I learned that the entire incident had occurred while my daughters and I were sleeping the night before. After the husband discovered the flood, he called his parents in panic, and they immediately rushed over to help retrieve water.

Apparently, this is not enough. My parents and husband have buckets and rags, but they need more equipment to remove the water.

In desperation, my husband decided to call our new neighbors and ask them to get a heavy-duty vacuum cleaner. They did so and happily joined in the cleanup even though it was 2am and we had just met that day.

Waking up to this news was devastating. I couldn’t believe how much damage had happened in one night and I felt terrible because I slept the whole time.

I am so humbled by the help from my neighbors. That morning I put together a care package filled with cookies and handmade cards from the kids thanking them for their kindness.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but it was the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

Today we cannot imagine life without our neighbors

Our neighbors are so grateful for this care package.

The day we gave it to them, we spent a few hours together talking and learning more about each other’s lives. They told us that their twin daughters lived outside the city and they had little time to spend with their young children.

When our daughter was born two weeks later, neighbors welcomed us home with flowers and gifts. We spent the next year together enjoying summer campfires, cozy vacations, and backyard birthday parties.

Two years later, when I received my multiple sclerosis diagnosis, our neighbors were there to give me hugs and comfort. This spring, while my husband was out of town, they offered to take the kids and me to a local truck bumper event to provide some extra help.

Now, six years later, our neighbors are more than just people who live nearby. They are like grandparents to our children and we cannot imagine life without them.

In hindsight, we are so grateful for the circumstances that brought us together. Our lifelong friendship was worth every dollar spent on basement repairs.

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