Pleased/flattered or annoyed?

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What the title of this post refers to is that a young male Aspie friend of mine who attends the same church as my family and I do with his mom is heading off to college this week, and his mom was pretty emotional about it. I only found out about it this past Sunday b/c I've just moved to live with my mom, stepdad, and sisters. My friend and I spoke about the transition for a little while, I gave him my email and wished him luck, and told him I knew he'd do great. His mom (whom my mom has told all about me, including the fact that I'm AS/autistic - kinda wish I could have been the one to disclose) turned to my mom with my friend standing next to her, gestured towards me and said, "She gives me hope - she has the same issues "A" has and she's already been thru it all (college) - I'm so glad he has her for a friend."

...Now, I'm glad I've been able to give her "hope," but....

...I really, REALLY feel like my friend and I don't necessarily have "issues" to begin with, aside from secondary issues we've developed over time (anxiety, fear of people) thanks to a society that isn't always as kind, understanding and accomodating as they could quite easily be most of the time, and

....The fact that apparently I've been someone's "Inspiration P*rn" all this time and have never realized/been told about it. I feel like my friend's mom should have believed in her son all along because he's a really cool young man and has the determination to pursue whatever he sets his mind to. Why did she need ME in order to be reassured of that?

So...I guess I'm just trying to sort out my thoughts regarding this. I'm not sure whether to feel flattered or to feel...just kind of used.

Here's my two cents:
If she thinks her son has issues, then that's true in her worldview. You can't easily change that, and she would probably not appreciate it if you tried (or are you good at giving positive affirmations? ).
IMO she simply feels good for knowing someone (anyone, you just happened to be that person) similar to her son who made it through in one piece to ease her anxiety (anxiety --> fear of unknown future) at least a little bit. Knowing one person like that feels better than knowing none, right?
Honestly, she's just worried, which is understandable... and I wouldn't think anything of that.

She's not using you unless she thinks inspiration for her & her son is the only thing you're good for. It doesn't sound like that's the case, to me. It sounded more like she was expressing some relief in knowing someone who's "been there, done that."

I can understand. I hate going first and like to observe others to see how they do things/have done things. It's scary to go into uncharted territory. She finds comfort in knowing that it is not so uncharted now that she knows you.

Try to look at the positive aspects of this, that some of the adversity you have faced has been used for good and you are making a difference in the world.

I would love to be, truly, an inspiration for somebody. I would be flattered if the GUY felt that way, rather than necessarily his mother.