On 9/5/2026, my parents, Tanya L. Carey and Gerald V. Carey, lost their home to a fire. The fire started in their music room and destroyed so much of the life they built as musicians: their piano, my mom's cellos, my dad's flutes, personal music, teaching tools, recordings, artwork, antique and family heirloom furniture, mementos, and other materials from their lives and careers. It also burned up into the loft, where even more of their personal and archived materials were lost.

They are safe, and right now they are staying with church friends. I am deeply grateful for that. But at ages 87 and 89, they now face the enormous task of trying to rebuild both their daily lives and the musical center of their home. This loss is not only financial. It is also personal and historic. There is no way to replace my mom's 1704 Guarneri cello from Cremona, Italy, or the lifelong bond and identity she built with that instrument.

The funds are needed right away to help with daily living essentials, insurance deductibles, and the immediate costs of getting their lives back together. Support will also help with long-term relocation, expenses connected to completing the investigation, reprinting Cello Playing is Easy so it can be available for sale again, salvaging or replacing music, and replacing instruments where possible.

My parents have spent their lives making their home a place where music could be shared with musicians, teachers, students, family, and friends. If you are able to give, please help us support Tanya and Gerald as they begin rebuilding after this fire. Any donation or share would mean so much to the people who love them, both at home and around the world.