ericpeffley

As a close friend of Cavin's (I'm not using my real name on Reddit), I always treated him the exact same way I always have for years and years, even though personally it was a bit strange/difficult/odd at first. I think it took about 15 minutes of talking with him once he was out of the hospital and walking (very slowly at the time) that I realized he was 100% there, but just not perfectly physically coordinated or had his voice "dialed in" or practiced yet.

Additionally, I do remember taking Cavin out to some of his first social events around Austin. Before Cavin arrived, I would compassionately tell my friends who I was with about his situation, and to not treat him lesser... that his wit and brain were still fine and to not be fooled by the external physical slowness. In these first few months, you'd see peoples' hesitations, until Cavin would come back with a sharp joke or remark and then they immediately "got it".

I could see many times he would get frustrated with the physical aspects of things and I can imagine this was extremely aggravating, going from one extreme to the other as Cavin was a fast-moving always-on-the-go person as well as a top-level martial arts expert years ago (something he doesn't like to brag about).

Since then, he's worked his ass off in physical therapy, often times several times a day and it is like night and day. And it has clearly paid off.

Today, if Cavin didn't tell you about his injury, you would have no idea.

More details on the restaurant and first meal! The cuisine, the location, what you ordered... Was it good/bad? Could you finish it? Want to hear this awesome story.