Hello everyone my name is Tracy Hobbs I'm Brad's mom and i just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart when i was growing up i lived with my single mother so i learned to appreciate everything i got so needless to say i brought my kids up the same way and i have always told not to take things for granted i just wanted to let you all know Brad is not a spoiled child he really does appreciate this you all are really angels sent from god i cant believe what you all have done and i cannot begin to tell you how it warms my heart you all have willing restored my faith in this world i would really like to thank pianobroker for getting this started i would like to thank haliun for donating and j mark for taking care of the money and a special thanks to sally Phillips i will always be so grateful to everyone and everyone will always be in heart thoughts and prayers i will never forget any of you once thanks everyone from the very bottom of my heart

Kudos to all those involved!

Heres the pictures...



Me with piano..



Me, Sally, and the beautiful Piano



Me, Lauren, and piano



Piano



I would like to say, Thank you to everyone for giving me this wonderful wonderful gift. I love it so much, Thank you!!

Congratulation again, Tracy and Brad...
May the piano bring so much joy for your family...

Wonderful ending for the story. May the piano give you the pleasure you deserve.

Duplicate post.

Hurrah!

But don't just stand there... get practicing!

-Michael B.

Brad-have you got a teacher yet? What an awesome gift you've been given. I bet the folks on this forum would have some excellent recommendations as you look for teacher.

Another quick thought- when you really start hitting the keys it would be great to hear/see some of your work on youtube! Best wishes...

That smile says it all!

BTW, if you thought you didn't sleep much last night, I doubt if you will be able to sleep tonight either!!!

Tired will be you and your fingers in the morning.

Congratulations Brad.

And enjoy every minute, everyday, every piece, and every musical moment as a budding pianist.

LL

Congratulations!! Remember to share time with your mom on the piano.

Wahh Hoo Brad!

There you are!
A spanking new and beautiful piano!
Start practicing and don't stop.

Congratulations!

Mike

Ps, can somebody please re-size those pictures.

I just got back from my wonderful trip to see the piano delivered to Brad's home. His family is very nice and were EXTREMELY grateful and pleased. He lives in the very beautiful mountains about 15 miles out of Pineville, KY.

Kudos to the mover (Camelot from Louisville) who although he had a mechanical problem with his truck managed to get there and up Brad's driveway with the trailer. I put my truck in 4WD just to make sure I could get up the hill, but I'm a wuss about those things.

The mountains just rise right up from either side of the road in majestic cliffs. Houses are perched on carved out alluvial plains at the base of the huge mountains. It is really something to see. This area is very close to the Cumberland Gap.

I am imagining Brad's piano music floating in between the giant rock faces along the sides of the valley. It certainly is a place that would seem very inspirational for a musician.

Thanks again to Theresa and Lauren from Hailun, Tony (pianobroker), Matt at Vintage Piano Works, J. Mark and everyone who helped pitch in to make this happen. We all worked together and every little bit counted.

You all have made Brad one happy young man. I also have to say that I appreciate getting to be involved. I was really the lucky one to actually be there to see the joy that this gift brought to this family.

It was truly worth every bit of effort for everyone.
Thanks, Thanks and Thanks Again,

Sally Phillips

Woo hoo! I could tell by how long it was taking to load this pages that the pictures were here! Congratulations, and have a great time playing.

Cathy

Those pictures and Brad's smile are worth a million bucks! Congratulations Brad. Now make those mountains sing with your music!

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Congratulations to all!

What he said! I just spent a day driving up through the Virginia and West Virginia mountains. What a spectacular day it was. The sun was so bright at times, I could barely see the road. But the trees were so many colors....

While I was down in NC, my step-mother gave me a copy of a CD of a very old recording of her playing Pathetique at her senior recital, at age 17. I kept thinking that it was unreal that a 17 year old girl could play that piece with such precision, and such passion. We all have music in us. But it's hard, hard work to really make it happen.

Get busy, dude. And don't ever think it's easy. Work, work, work. Long hours, hard work, dedication. You've got the instrument now, the only limitations are the ones that are there for you to conquer.

Brad,

Congrats on your new piano. The smile on your face is priceless, what a joy this must be for you and your family.
Peggy

All I can say is "wow"! Brad - Congrats!

This is a story to restore faith in human nature.

I don't know if there were others who like me have been following this entire saga, wondering when it was going to turn into something less desirable. I realize now what in Internet cynic I've become.

But while a healthy caution is a wise thing, a good many of you fine people trusted in the better nature of this young man, who in another venue might have been quite someone else.

And hurray for you who trusted. It's a wonderful and inspiring outcome. Thank you all for your example to the skeptical. May you all feel a warmth today that matches that boy's smile!

This is a great story. Brad you are some lucky kid. Congratulations. There are really great people here on PW. Totally selfless.

What an exciting and touching real life story.

Brad, congrats on your new piano and believe you will enjoy every moment when you play on it day after day. It is an instrument that brings warm and joy to your heart because there's a lot of human touch on it.

To all who help to get Brad's dream come true in one way or another - a big THANK YOU to all of you for you have made this world to better place to live in.

Wonderful!!! You guys who made this all happen are beautiful.

Congrats Brad, hope to hear something soon. Even if it's Mary had a little lamb. We don't care

back at yea...congrats

Great Pictures! Definitely worth the time, effort and donations.

I can now sum my feelings into two words: "PIANO PARTY!"

No, seriously, I don't think we have enough tents for the campout based on the description of the lush surroundings (I'm very jealous living in the edge of Virginia's Coastal Plain where the geography is quite flat).

Brad, Please let me know if you need any BAD 80s sheet music. It would only make my spouse too happy.

Enjoy!

Wow, a big congrats to you Brad! And to all of you who made this happen, you are wonderful, inspirational people. Reading Brad's mom's sincere joy and seeing the pictures seriously made my eyes well up. This is an outcome that is awesome on many levels.
Best to you

Tina

People helping people! What could be better?

I love it!

Congatulations to Brad & family for the new piano. There's nothing like the smile on the face of a youngster with a new piano. I've gotten to see that kind of smile twice recently. First on the face of the little girl I gave my old Acrosonic to, and second on my little one's face when I set up my digital piano for him in his bedroom to replace the Acro that he considered his.

To everyone who helped Brad get his piano, that smile is your reward. Great job everyone!

Enjoy Brad.. become a great player!

Most excellent...you are a lucky man Brad. ENJOY

Brad,
Believe it or not, as greatful as you are right now, this event has provided some of us with an opportunity to receive a lot more than we are giving. In my case anyway....As one who deals with the negative side of human nature, every day, this opportunity to help provide something worthwhile with a bunch of strangers, even my relatively small amount, to a tangible cause, has renewed my faith in the 90 plus percent of people out there who are good and decent.

In short, like The Man said a long time ago: "In giving, so shall you receive." Thanks Brad!

Hey Brad,

We haven't heard from you. Hope you're playing that new piano!

KM