As a tour guide at Highpoint Mansion, I am tasked with telling the story of a home and the people who lived within its walls. My favorite moment on the tour is in the Billiard Room, where I share how the Hersheys never expected to be known for their generosity, but more importantly, how they never imagined the circumstances that would lead to their greatest legacy.

     Milton and Catherine Hershey could not have children of their own—news that devastated them. They had imagined Highpoint filled with laughter echoing off the high ceilings. Instead, the halls were destined to be quiet. Seeking purpose, Catherine proposed an idea: to use their vast wealth to start a school for orphaned children, for the most vulnerable in society. This gave them a mission beyond themselves, one that continues to this day. Today, the Milton Hershey School, with over 12,000 graduates, is a legacy that transformed the world.

     I tell this story with such passion on my tours because it is a lesson my husband, Brennan, and I have had to learn in our own way. Like the Hersheys, our lives took a direction we never asked for, yet it led us to a purpose we couldn’t have found any other way.

In 2014, we welcomed our firstborn, Victoria. With her big eyes and dark hair, she was the picture of a bright future. But when Tori was six months old, our world stopped. After a grueling six-week "diagnostic odyssey," we were told our daughter was dying of Krabbe disease—a rare, terminal genetic condition. We were told she might live to be two, and that there was nothing we could do. However, there was a catch: if Krabbe had been caught at birth through Newborn Screening (NBS), she could have been treated. In that moment of total darkness, my path became clear.

     I purposefully waited to begin working toward change until Tori was no longer with us. We created a bucket list for her and completed fifty adventures with her, choosing joy and life with our precious daughter and creating as many memories as possible. Three weeks after Tori passed away at the age of 20 months, I began my advocacy.

Newborn Screening is a public health success story that saves more than 12,000 lives in the United States annually. Between 24-48 hours after birth, babies are screened in three ways: a heel prick (blood spot), a hearing screening, and a heart test. The screenings are looking for conditions that require immediate intervention to prevent death or permanent disability.

     As I listened to and learned from those involved in the PA NBS program, I realized that systemic issues were preventing innovation. I no longer wanted to only add Krabbe disease to the list; I wanted to ensure that Pennsylvania’s experts—not politicians—were making evidence-based decisions for our babies.

     After three legislative attempts over five years, our efforts succeeded. On November 25, 2020, Act 133 was signed into law. Tori’s legacy was etched into the statutes of our commonwealth. The weight of that victory hit home just sixty-seven days later when we learned of identical twins diagnosed with Krabbe through the new screening. The twins were born on Tori’s birthday. Our stories were forever intertwined—not just by a disease, but by a date and a second chance at life that Tori’s story made possible.

While we fought those legislative battles, our own family life continued to evolve. Our twin sons were born in 2018, right here in Hershey. Yet again, we imagined who they would become, but life had more twists in store.

     Amidst the isolation of the pandemic, I noticed our twins were falling behind in speech. After our concerns were initially dismissed by pediatricians, it was a routine kindergarten hearing screening through the Derry Township School District that finally provided the answer: they had moderate-to-severe hearing loss. This time, our community was the one to hand us the key to the solution.

     Once again, my life as an advocate and a mother merged. I realized that the most vulnerable members of our community—especially those in special education—need a voice in the room where decisions are made. This led me to run for Derry Township School Director. I was elected in November 2025, stepping into a role where I can ensure every child in our district is seen and heard.

Our ties to Hershey run deep. Whether we are on duty as emergency relief houseparents at the Milton Hershey School, working at the Spa at The Hotel Hershey, giving tours, or restoring our 1911 Hershey home, we feel the history of this town in everything we do.

     Our time here has changed us. We weren't born in Hershey, but we have chosen to make it our home. We have learned that life doesn’t always go the way you planned, but if you are willing to embrace the change in direction, you can create an impact far greater than you ever imagined. Mr. Hershey was fond of the Golden Rule - “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” and we strive to live that out daily by doing what we can for the most vulnerable, whether that is children with rare diseases like our Tori, or those with unique needs like our sons. 

     We are proud to be part of the Hershey legacy—and grateful to be building our own right here.