When Judy O'Connor attended her son's graduation, it was not only a special moment but a culmination of two years' of sheer hard work.
Marty is a quadriplegic, meaning he's lost the use of all four of his limbs following a devastating fall five years previously. Before his accident, Marty was the All-American college student, playing volleyball and snowboarding while studying for his bachelor's degree at the University of Colorado.
When he realised that he wasn’t going to fully recover physically, “he decided he needed an intellectual challenge, and that’s why he came back for his M.B.A.,” a Chapman University spokesperson told the New York Times.
He began to explore MBA programmes. He received help in the form of a $10,000 a year grant from the Swim with Mike organisation - a group that provides scholarships for physically challenged athletes. It was established in honour of Mike Nyeholt, a USC swimmer who was paralysed in 1981.
But it wasn't just Marty that put the work in for his business administration M.B.A at Chapman. Judy was with him every step of the way.
Judy, who had her own business degree, sat in every one of Marty's class, taking notes for him and typing when he needed it. Marty uses an iPad, laptop, voice recognition software and a special stylus (electronic pen) attached to his mouth.
Judy's dedication to her son's education and well-being didn't go unnoticed. When she pushed his chair on stage and stood back to let Marty bask in his moment, Chapman University's Dean held her back for a moment.
“Then I heard my name on the loudspeaker,” Judy, a retired schoolteacher told the New York Times. “It was a total surprise.” Judy was awarded an honorary M.B.A for her efforts to thunderous applause. Months of planning and liaising between Marty and the college's administration had made Marty's wish to honour his mother come true.
"I was totally blown away,” she said. “I had no idea what was happening.”
Judy O’Connor received honorary degree alongside son Marty O'Connor (MBA '17) after accident left him quadriplegic https://t.co/edRCwD3TXX pic.twitter.com/HUnwFSniK7
— Chapman University (@ChapmanU) May 24, 2017
“He got the ball rolling about three months ago,” Ms O’Connor said, while he was meeting with the University President Daniele Struppa.
Struppa told the New York Times that there was 'no hesitation' when Mr O'Connor asked his mother to be considered for an honorary degree.
Judy never saw the moment coming: "How he kept it a secret from me, I do not know. Because I help him with his cellphone. It was really a covert operation."
For Marty, secrecy was everything. Sheri Ledbetter, a university spokeswoman asked Marty if he would publicise his and his mother's incredible story. "Marty’s a really chill, mellow guy, but he said, with a strong tone, ‘Do not ruin the surprise for my mom,’” Ledbetter said.
The story has resonated outside of the campus. Ledbetter said, "He’s been saying over and over, ‘Your circumstances are not your sentence.’”
