Understanding buddies

I remember the first meeting I had with my understanding buddy. That was in 2007 late August.
I took the flight to Birmingham to meet a girl that has RSD just like me. I had never met anyone with same condition. Maybe weird to fly all the way to UK just to meet one with same diagnos.
But to be honest, I didn't know anyone with the same.
It was a nervous flight because I didn't know what to expect, how to react. Did she look like an Alien just like I did ? Or did she look sort more of normal ?
But there she stood at the airport looking just like me. With a big brace on her left knee just like me. But on crutches and me in wheelchair of course.
I don't think I have ever looked at someone else in the special way I did...and she looked me in my eyes. Then she gave me a big bright smile and leaned over and hugged me hard for a long time. I hugged her back and we just did that for a long while.
No words was needed. I had found my buddy in pain.