• Brooke Parrish was born with the rare genetic condition called Pfeiffer syndrome.
• Characterized by anomalies of the skull, face, and limbs, it’s caused by early fusion of the bones.
• Parrish tried to hide her facial differences as a child and teenager, but now she embraces them.

This story is based on a conversation with Brooke Parrish, 29, a higher education admissions advisor and TikToker who lives in Louisville, Kentucky. It has been edited for length and clarity.

The doctors in the rural area in Kentucky, where I was born in March 1996, were unsure of my condition when I was born.

They referred me to a hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, a two-hour drive away, where I was diagnosed with Pfeiffer syndrome.

The genetic condition — which is caused by early fusion of the bones in the uterus — strikes people differently. In my case, it led to the premature fusion of my skull and elbows, also affecting some of my fingers and toes.

My parents, Angela and Chip, now 55, relocated to Louisville, where I had several cranial procedures when I was young.

Mom and Dad were incredibly supportive. Mom didn’t treat me any differently, as if I were fragile. I would climb the stairs just as much as my cousins did.

I tried not to limit myself, despite being challenged by the lower range of motion in my arms. I couldn’t lift them beyond my breastbone and could only touch my face with two fingers.

I never saw myself falling in love or getting married

Meanwhile, the pain was intense from the operations and healing.

There is a difference between knowing that you have a certain condition and accepting the reality of it. I didn’t speak about it for years.

In fact, I internalized it. I never saw myself falling in love or getting married.

Thankfully, I wasn’t bullied, but the other kids would often stare at me. Between the ages of 13 and 18, I grew bangs to cover my eyes, which were my main concern. I could hardly see where I was going.

Then, as I grew older, I began to gain confidence. My bangs got shorter over the years. It was a sign that I’d become more accepting of myself.

I realized that going through so much at a young age gave me the strength and resilience I needed to overcome challenges. Over time, I began to accept my differences.

I wished I could have given my younger self a hug and told her that she’d become grounded and happy.

I started dating at the age of 18

When I got a job as a cashier at a retail store, I dealt with the stares I got by being super friendly. I’d strike up a conversation, rather than deal with any awkwardness. It worked. People were receptive.

I went on several dates between 18 and 21 because I had a lot of catching up to do.

My preference was online dating. Unfortunately, as much as I would have liked someone to fall for my personality, I wanted the men on the site to make an initial decision based on my photograph. I was fully transparent.

One guy I was involved with for a few months couldn’t cope with the stares. He couldn’t handle what came with someone with multiple disabilities. And that’s OK. It’s not for everyone.

I met my future husband, Joe, now 30, on Tinder eight years ago. It was cute because, two days before our official first date, he popped into the store I worked in unannounced.

He said that he wanted to take away the nerves of getting ready and driving to our first date. We walked around the store to get to know each other a little. He was right because our first date was more relaxed.

We’ve been together ever since, and our beautiful wedding was in October 2021. I never expected a man to be so attentive and devoted. He does anything for me that I can’t do with my arms. He can braid my hair and create updos. He puts on my necklaces and earrings. It’s the little things that count, and they’re wonderful.

Social media is a way of spreading my message of hope

I want people with facial differences to know that, through TikTok, you can feel powerful and proud. I’ve had an overwhelming response from people with or without craniofacial disabilities.

One of my pen pals is a 15-year-old with a condition like mine. It’s like looking in a mirror. I want her to be strong, open about who she is, and to allow other people to love and help her.

• The final sets of pennies ever minted sold for nearly $17 million.
• Stack’s Bowers Galleries worked with the US Mint to sell the small pieces of history.
• In November, the final pennies were minted after President Donald Trump ordered the coin’s discontinuation.

Collectors paid a pretty penny to get their hands to get the very last minted pennies.

Stack’s Bowers Galleries, a specialized coin auction site, said it sold 232 three-coin sets featuring some of the final pennies ever struck for a grand total of $16.76 million.

These coins aren’t like the ones stuck between your couch cushions or floating around in a junk drawer. One coin was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, one was struck at the Denver Mint, and the final coin was a special 24-karat gold penny. Each of the final pennies also bears a small “Ω,” the Greek letter of Omega, further signifying the end of an era that stretches back to the establishment of the US Mint in 1792.

According to the auction site, the roughly $17 million is a record for special coins sold on behalf of the United States Mint.

“They captured the public imagination like few rare coins we’ve ever handled,” Stack’s Bowers Galleries President Brian Kendrella said in a statement. “Even our staff of expert numismatists, who see the world’s most famous and valuable rare coins day in and day out, were excited by the chance to handle the very last pennies struck before the suspension of circulating production.”

In February, President Donald Trump announced that he had instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to halt production of new pennies. For decades, leaders of both major political parties had talked about killing the single-cent coin due to the increasing cost of production. The US Mint reported losing over $85 million on penny production in FY 2024.

It was unclear whether Trump had the authority to unilaterally eliminate the penny, but ultimately, the administration proceeded with its plans. A 2024 New York Times Magazine report popularized the legal theory that a section of the US Code gave the Secretary of the Treasury the power to effectively discontinue the penny.

In May, the US Mint made its final order of penny blanks. By November, the final US penny was struck in a ceremonial process aided by Treasurer of the United States Brandon Beach.

Fittingly, the final penny auction was broken down into 232 lots, one for each year of the coin’s existence. The final lot “included the very last circulating penny intended for issuance struck at Philadelphia and Denver” in addition to the canceled dies used to strike the final series of coins.

Set 232 sold for $800,000, or 16 million nickels.

We spoke with three families who told us what it really takes to inherit and keep a family business alive. They run a decades-old Chicago barbecue sauce brand, a Greek bakery, and one of the last fabric-flower businesses in New York.

(Sponsored by Edward Jones)

• After traveling to all 50 states, I’ve come across some charming cities to visit in the winter.
• Healdsburg, California, and Aspen, Colorado, feel especially magical during the holidays.
• I also love visiting Park City, Charleston, and Boulder for cozy winter vibes.

When it comes to winter travel, there’s nothing quite like visiting a picture-perfect town with charming local shops, friendly faces, and festivals for every occasion.

After visiting all 50 states, I’ve discovered that some cities feel like Hallmark movies in real life — especially during the holidays. Here are some of my favorites to visit for cute winter vibes.

Boulder, Colorado, is full of cozy shops and restaurants.

As a Boulder resident, I may be biased, but this Colorado city feels made for a Hallmark movie. Downtown, the pedestrian-only Pearl Street is lined with local shops, cozy restaurants, and every outdoor-gear store you could imagine.

During the holidays, the streets twinkle with colorful lights, and frequent festivals, art markets, and a festive parade bring the town to life.

Towering above it all, the Boulder Star on Flagstaff Mountain — a massive illuminated landmark visible from miles away — casts a magical glow over the city, making the season feel truly special.

Healdsburg, California, is stunning during the holidays.

Healdsburg, California, is one of my favorite small towns in the country.

The downtown area is perfectly walkable with boutique shops, tasting rooms, and cozy cafés centered around a gorgeous town square.

I especially love visiting during “Merry Healdsburg,” the tree-lighting event where Santa appears, the whole town comes out, and there are carriage rides, live music, and a holiday market.

Throughout the season, various holiday events and decorations create a storybook winter wonderland at every turn.

Aspen, Colorado, feels like a winter wonderland.

I love visiting Aspen, Colorado, year-round, but the holidays have a way of making the whole town feel magical.

I always enjoy wandering the pedestrian-only streets, with charming (and upscale) shops and restaurants against the dramatic mountain backdrop. Plus, there are plenty of opportunities to ski.

Each year, I make it a point to watch the Snow Polo Championship, which spectators can easily access from downtown Aspen. Whether you attend as a ticket holder or a free spectator, it’s a truly unique holiday experience.

Park City, Utah, truly feels like the set of a Hallmark movie.

I love visiting Park City during the holidays. There’s something special about seeing the snowy streets and lights while walking along the historic Main Street, with its charming Western shops and upscale restaurants.

Skiing in the area adds to the magic, and all the festive decorations and seasonal events make it feel like the perfect winter escape.

Charleston is beautifully decorated during the holiday season.

In my opinion, there’s nothing quite like visiting Charleston during the holiday season.

Strolling along the Battery and getting lost along the historic cobblestone streets of the French Quarter and South of Broad, I’m surrounded by pastel-colored homes, wrought-iron balconies, and beautifully decorated architecture that looks like it was made for a holiday scene.

The cozy shops, cafés, and hidden courtyards add to the magical atmosphere. I love shopping for holiday gifts, stopping into special Christmas pop-up shops, and admiring the over-the-top decor and festive lights that seem to cover every surface downtown.

Bayfield, Wisconsin, is a quaint town with cozy Midwestern vibes.

Situated on the shores of Lake Superior, Bayfield, Wisconsin, is filled with historic brick storefronts, cozy cafés, and local boutique lodging, all with a welcoming Midwestern vibe.

During Christmas in Bayfield, twinkling lights line the streets, local shops host craft markets, and festive events make the harbor area feel friendly, magical, and almost surreal.

Vail, Colorado, is a must-visit during the holiday season.

This brings the total to three Colorado towns on my list, but Vail is worth it. With twinkling lights lining the European-inspired architecture, cozy shops, and mountain views around every corner, visiting seemingly transports me to the scene of a movie.

I love the festive energy around the ice skating rink, where families and friends gather. Plus, I always have to stop by the Four Seasons for an elevated cup of “haute chocolate.”

• Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, died on Sunday in an apparent homicide.
• This son, Nick, has been charged in connection with their deaths.
• In 2016, Business Insider interviewed Rob and Nick about their movie, “Being Charlie,” which is based on Nick’s past drug addiction.

Editor’s note: Business Insider published an interview with Rob Reiner and his son Nick Reiner in May 2016 about their movie, “Being Charlie,” which Nick wrote and is based on his experiences with drug addiction. On December 15, 2025, Nick Reiner was arrested on a murder charge in connection with the deaths of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. Below is the 2016 article.

For the last 30 years, Rob Reiner has been best known for directing movies like “Stand by Me,” “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally,” and “A Few Good Men.” The titles have brought joy to millions.

But the Reiner household hasn’t been all happy. The legendary actor/filmmaker’s son, Nick, 22, has been battling drug abuse since his late teens.

Most families would want to keep that part of their lives as hidden from public view as possible. But Reiner admits that, even at the darkest moments of his son’s addiction, he thought of making a movie. Yet it was too painful to put pen to page and begin a script.

Interestingly enough, his son came to the same realization as a means to rehabilitate.

While at a rehab center in Los Angeles four years ago, Nick befriended fellow addict Matt Elisofon. The two began writing about their challenges with addiction and the people they met at rehab. Eventually they came up with a script for the movie “Being Charlie” (in theaters Friday), which they asked Rob to direct.

The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last September to a sold-out crowd.

It’s a mix of drama and comedy that focuses on an 18-year-old named Charlie (played Nick Robinson of “Jurassic World” fame) as he struggles with addiction to heroin and cocaine. As Charlie jumps in and out of rehab, the aggravation of his actor-turned-politician father (Cary Elwes) grows, and he doesn’t know how to help his son.

“It was a real corrective emotional experience,” Nick Reiner told Business Insider following the TIFF screening about making the movie.

It took “Being Charlie” four years to get to the screen (in that time Nick has been sober), evolving from a half-hour comedy, then an hour dramedy that was rejected by the TV networks, to finally a feature film.

According to Rob Reiner, what the project lacked in its early development was telling both the father’s and son’s sides.

“It needed what he has been through but also what we had been through,” Rob told Business Insider, referring to himself and his wife, Michele, who was sitting beside him.

Nick and Elisofon were by Rob’s side throughout filming. According to Rob, the script was tweaked daily to make the scenes more true to life.

“I relied on him,” Rob said of his son. “He’s the heart and soul of the film.”

One of the biggest adjustments came while shooting the film’s ending, in which Charlie and his father finally have a heart-to-heart.

Rob and Nick couldn’t find the right tone. After constant rewrites, they finally felt they had something a few days before shooting the scene. It’s a gripping moment when both the father and son open up to each other like they never have before.

The Reiners compare getting the ending right to the whole experience making the film.

“We were healing as we were going along,” Nick said. “And it all doesn’t happen overnight. Certain things we hadn’t dealt with for a while but we were able to through this movie. It didn’t fix everything, but it really tapped into — “

Nick paused to find the words, then his father, sitting across from Nick, finished for him.

“It forced me to really have to understand what he had been going through for a long time,” Rob said.

• Rob Reiner leaves a legacy on the big screen, thanks to classic movies like “When Harry Met Sally…” and “A Few Good Men.”
• He and his wife died of an apparent homicide in their Los Angeles home on Sunday. He was 78.
• Here are the eight movies that define his career.

Rob Reiner leaves behind a body of work that won’t soon be forgotten.

From comedies such as “When Harry Met Sally…” and “The Princess Bride” to classic Stephen King adaptations like “Stand by Me” and Misery,” Reiner’s storytelling mastery delivered some of the most memorable movies released in the 1980s and 1990s. And I didn’t even mention the gripping drama “A Few Good Men.”

Here are eight of Reiner’s most memorable films.

“This Is Spinal Tap” (1984)

Being the son of Carl Reiner, a pioneer in onscreen comedy, and having acted in variety shows for most of his youth, eventually playing Michael “Meathead” Stivic on “All in the Family,” throughout the 1970s, Reiner never had a problem being on screen.

It made him the perfect straight man opposite Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer in this comedy, which he also directed, about a fake band going on tour.

Essentially creating the mockumentary genre with the movie, Reiner plays a director named Marty Di Bergi who chronicles the US tour of the English rock band Spinal Tap.

The movie went on to become a cult classic. Guest has since taken the mockumentary reins, going on to create his own classics, such as the 2000 film “Best in Show” and the 2003 film “A Mighty Wind.”

“Stand by Me” (1986)

Reiner adapted Stephen King’s novella “The Body” for his sophomore directing effort and demonstrated that he can do much more than comedy.

This coming-of-age tale about a group of friends who set out to look for a dead body made stars out of its lead characters — Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell, River Phoenix, and Wil Wheaton — and decades later, you can find many similarities in the character development in Netflix’s “Stranger Things.”

“The Princess Bride” (1987)

Shifting to the fantasy genre, Reiner crafted a love story that has only grown in popularity.

Cary Elwes plays Westley, a swashbuckler determined to reconnect with his true love, played by Robin Wright, who is a princess set to be married.

Along the way, Elwes teams with the likes of Mandy Patinkin, Andre the Giant, and Billy Crystal to complete his quest.

“When Harry Met Sally…” (1989)

Reiner collaborated with screenwriter Nora Ephron to make one of the greatest romantic comedies ever.

From the fake orgasm in the diner scene to the romantic conclusion when Harry (Billy Crystal) finally professes his love to Sally (Meg Ryan) on New Year’s Eve, any rom-com that has worked since is because it has used elements that originated in “When Harry Met Sally….”

“Misery” (1990)

A year later, Reiner would once more turn to Stephen King to prove he can do more than comedy.

James Caan plays a novelist who is held captive by an obsessive fan played by Kathy Bates.

The movie would be a sensation and lead to Bates winning an Oscar, marking the only time an Oscar has been awarded to a King adaptation.

“A Few Good Men” (1992)

Aaron Sorkin adapted his 1989 play for Reiner’s next movie, which would go on to be nominated for four Oscars, including best picture.

With an all-star cast that includes Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon, and Kiefer Sutherland, this courtroom drama focuses on a hotshot attorney (Cruise) trying to exonerate two Marines charged with the murder of another Marine.

The movie concludes with a showdown between Cruise and Nicholson, playing the Colonel at the base where the murder took place, that is highlighted by the now-famous movie line by Nicholson: “You can’t handle the truth!”

“The American President” (1995)

Reiner and Sorkin would team up again for this lighthearted political drama, in which Michael Douglas plays a widowed President of the United States who falls for a lobbyist, played by Annette Bening.

The movie went on to be the spirit animal for Sorkin’s beloved series “The West Wing,” which aired from 1999 to 2006.

“Albert Brooks: Defending My Life” (2023)

One of Reiner’s final directing efforts was this documentary on his good friend, Albert Brooks.

Reiner, who is also in a lot of the movie speaking with Brooks, recounts the comic’s legendary career from being the go-to stand-up comic for Johnny Carson to becoming a renowned director himself (“Real Life,” “Modern Romance,” “Defending Your Life,” “Mother”).