Mother earns honorary degree after accompanying quadriplegic son to all his college classes

A mother and her son were both awarded degrees at the weekend in Chapman University, Orange County.

29-year-old Marty O’Connor, uses a wheelchair after a severe accident in 2012 left him quadriplegic. It had been his dream to study for an MBA, but due to his disability he was unable to write.

“After I got hurt, I didn’t know which end was up,” he said. “I didn’t really have a direction. I was just dedicating myself to physical therapy five days a week.

“While my body was in a better place because of that, mentally, I was just kind of lost. … I needed that mental challenge and wanted to add some professional value to myself.”

He managed to secure funding for his MBA, and could use an iPad, laptop, voice recognition software and a mouth stick to help him complete his work - but was unable to take notes in class.

And so his mother Judy, a retired elementary school teacher, stepped in as Marty's note-taker, accompanying him to all his classes to provide assistance.

When she helped Marty onto the stage at Chapman University on Saturday, she was taken by surprise as the announcer singled her out as a “special individual,” saying; “Mrs. Judith O’Connor has attended all the classes with her son Marty. She has taken notes and worked with Marty throughout his academic career.”

She then learned that, on Marty's suggestion, the University faculty, administration and board of trustees had decided to award her an honorary degree.

"I was just so excited for her because she deserved it so much," Marty said.

Judy told KTLA she was extremely proud of her son: "As a mom, you just want to help your kids get through things. I always believed in him. I knew he could do it and I just wanted to have his back."