Before She Believed in Herself, You Believed in Her
July 30, 2026
Most teenagers spend the summer before their senior year thinking about college visits, future careers, and the excitement that comes with knowing graduation is finally within reach.
Cora Hussar is no different.
She’s exploring colleges, considering a future in special education, and spending part of her summer working as a part-time tutor for the children of another Schreiber family. She’s also begun her final year of high school.
A future she’s worked incredibly hard to build.
And one that wasn’t always guaranteed.
Learning to Keep Moving Forward
Cora has been part of the Schreiber community since her preschool years and has participated in physical therapy, aquatic therapy, Camp Schreiber, and most recently, our modern band program with The UnSinkables, where she serves as the band’s drummer. She also enjoys playing drums with her church youth group.
As a young child, Cora struggled with gross and fine motor skills. She experienced developmental delays, had difficulty with balance, and used a reverse walker during preschool.
While her twin sister seemed to reach milestones effortlessly, every new skill required extra work and determination for Cora.
At four years old, she took her first independent steps. It was a milestone years in the making, but it wouldn’t be the last time Cora proved what was possible.
Over the years, Cora continued working hard in therapy, meeting goals, and pushing through challenges that would have caused many people to quit.
“She was and is a hard worker,” her mother, Terra, shared. “She meets goals and does the hard things so that she can do all that her body will permit.”
As the years passed, those small victories began to add up.
The little girl who once needed a walker learned to ride a traditional bicycle and learned to ski, activities she continues to enjoy with her dad, who has challenged and encouraged her every step of the way. Today, she travels and serves alongside others through her church, plays backyard volleyball with her siblings, and continues finding new ways to participate in the activities she loves. Growing up with two older brothers, an identical twin sister, and two younger sisters, Cora has always had a family cheering her on. Because they were all so close in age, her siblings were often right beside her during countless visits to Schreiber as one by one, barriers became opportunities.
When Cora was in fifth grade she memorized and performed a lengthy poem for her entire school. The poem told the story of a child running a race who keeps falling down. Every time the child falls, they get back up and keep moving forward. As the race continues, the crowd slowly stops paying attention to the leaders and begins cheering for the runner who refuses to quit. Eventually, after falling again and again, the child crosses the finish line.
For Cora’s mom Terra, the poem felt deeply personal. “Cora is this child,” she said. “When she falls, she gets up and keeps moving forward.”
The poem won first place, and helped Cora see what her family had always known about her.
She’s stronger than she realizes.
Ready for What’s Next
Today, Cora is earning strong grades and plans to graduate on time. She’s exploring colleges and hopes to study special education one day.
Perhaps it’s no surprise.
After all, Cora knows what it feels like when someone believes in you. She knows what it means to have people cheering you on when things are difficult, and she knows how powerful encouragement can be.
As she prepares for her senior year, the future looks bright. Because even though the road hasn’t always been easy, she’s spent a lifetime learning that when she falls, all she needs to do is get back up.
Helping Children Prepare for What’s Next
Every child deserves the opportunity to build the skills, confidence, and independence they need for the future. For some children, that means taking their first independent steps. For others, it means gaining the confidence to raise their hand in class, make a new friend, or dream about college.
Because of supporters like you, children throughout central Pennsylvania have access to therapy, recreation programs, camps, and opportunities that help them grow into confident, capable young adults.
As Cora prepares for life beyond high school, we’re reminded that every milestone matters, because each one helps build the foundation for what’s next.
Give today and help the next child take their own step toward their future.
Get Our eNewsletter
Stay informed and inspired
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest Schreiber news, events, and stories. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube..