Newport Beach’s Lucie Courtois eager to share her ‘Miracle’ story

Twenty-year-old Lucie Courtois, who has written her first children’s book, celebrated the fruits of her labor at a signing event Friday afternoon outside of Lido Village Books in Newport Beach

Getting to this point for the 2020 Corona del Mar High School graduate might seem like a miracle in and of itself. She currently has some vision in her left eye but none in her right.

The Corona del Mar resident was born with corneal opacities and has received more than 20 corneal transplants. She began to use the services of Blind Children’s Learning Center in Santa Ana as an infant.

“She’s got another [book] that she’s writing after this,” said Courtois’ mother, Carol Trapani, who sits on the BCLC board of directors. “She wants to inspire people who have any kind of disabilities, that they can do anything.”

Trapani said it took her daughter a couple years to write “Miracle: Endless Possibilities,” a story with multiple characters. That’s at least partially due to Courtois’ outgoing personality, she said.

“She doesn’t let her vision, or lack thereof, stop her,” Trapani said, adding that Lucie now attends California School for the Blind, a transition program to help create independence.

“Miracle: Endless Possibilities” tells the story of a young, visually impaired third-grade boy who has to navigate the trials of bullying but also experiences friendship. Courtois said the book could be considered somewhat autobiographical, though there are differences from her own life.

Lucie Courtois, 20, is guided by her mother, Carol Trapani, as she signs copies of her first children’s book, “Miracle: Endless Possibilities” during a book signing event on Friday at Lido Village Books in Newport Beach.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

At Friday’s book signing, a nametag was inserted with Courtois’ name in Braille in the front of each book, though she also signed some copies with a pen. It was a fun affair for family and friends, and her aunts, uncles and cousins traveled from New Orleans for the signing.

Lucie’s older brother, Luc, was inspired by her and is in medical school at Tulane University to become an ophthalmologist.

“I’m so proud of her,” said BCLC teacher Cathy McHugh, who showed up to lend support at the signing event. “In the time that I worked with her, her Braille skills and writing skills went through the roof. She’s extremely intelligent and she’s got a wicked sense of humor, so immediately I could see so much potential in her. She’s a little powerhouse.”

Courtois said she wrote the book because she wanted people to be inspired.

“I don’t want people to be lonely,” she said. “They can reach out and connect with anyone.”

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