Courtney Giarrusso, 33, dies; overcame lifelong disability

COURTNEY ELIZABETH GIARRUSSO, who overcame difficulties as a spina bifada patient since birth and went on to earn her master’s degree in mental health counseling two years ago, passed away on Tuesday, May 27, 2014. She was 33.

Giarrusso graduated from Our Lady of Holy Cross College in 2012, shortly before her father, attorney and former Magistrate Judge Joseph Giarusso, died. However, both he and his wife, Orleans Parish Civil District Judge Robin Giarusso, got to see their daughter’s hard work and determination pay off when she received her diploma in a wheelchair. Her test scores were noted as among the highest in the school and, in the face of tremendous hardships, she still managed to display an unexpected, upbeat spirit throughout her academic career.

Paralyzed from the shoulders down, Giarrusso was aided in her studies by the use of a number of computer programs including voice-assisted commands for a mouse and keyboard.

Spina bifida, a congenital deformity of the spinal cord, has three different levels of involvement. Giarrusso was diagnosed with myelomeningocele spina bifida, which is the most severe and debilitating. Giarrusso underwent several surgeries throughout her life to correct problems, but was still unable to sit up for more than a few hours at a time. She was confined to a bed for much of her life and assisted by her devoted parents, who always supported her efforts to help other people. Her decision to become a mental health counselor was born from that desire.

Giarrusso, who attended Edna Karr Magnet School on the West Bank, lived with her parents in a spacious home in the tony Lakewood South subdivision prior to Hurricane Katrina’s landfall and the eventual breach of the 17th Street Canal. The family evacuated to the Fairmont (now Roosevelt) Hotel for safety prior to the storm’s landfall, but had to be rescued after the flooding had occurred by a high police official from a neighboring parish, according to Giarrusso’s own account. During the rescue, she suffered a broken arm in a fall and required treatment in a Baton Rouge hospital for two weeks also due to severe dehydration and bedsores. Despite her relocation during the recovery period in Baton Rouge and later in Algiers, where the family purchased a new home, she continued her studies online and attended classes at nighttime. She became a graduate of the University of New Orleans with a bachelor’s degree in general studies in May of 2007.

She is survived by Judge Giarrusso and her brother Joseph (Cassie) Giarrusso, III.

The funeral was conducted on Friday, May 30 in the Temple Sinai sanctuary at 6227 St. Charles Avenue. Visitation was from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 am and the service began at 11:30 a.m. Rabbi Edward Paul Cohn officiated, assisted by Cantor Joel Colman. Burial followed immediately in Metairie Cemetery.

Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home was in charge of funeral arrangements.

The family has specified that memorial donations should be made to the charity of your choice. Those wishing to make a donation to the Spina Bifida of Greater New Orleans chapter should note it is not associated with the Spina Bifida Association of America.