Music helps teen fair victim rebuild

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Brad Humphrey's mornings are filled with grueling, sometimes painful physical therapy.

The accident at the State Fair left the teen tennis star paralyzed from the waist down.

Physical therapy is necessary but not something the 17-year-old loves. By contrast, his afternoon routine – music therapy - speaks to his healing and his heart.

Now confined to a wheelchair, Humphrey perched his violin on his left shoulder Tuesday. As he was struggling with a few of the tougher notes in a piece his orchestra is learning, a surprise visitor walked into his room.

"Anything I can help with on this?" Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Zach DePue asked the teen.

Brad blushed - so surprised, he was nearly speechless.

The two practiced and played a familiar Beethoven piece, Ode to Joy – a symphony that speaks to both of them.

"I shared with him playing music has helped me deal with a lot of certain different things in my life," De Pue said.

Brad said he was surprised but knew something was up. The television cameras may have been part of the tipoff

If things go as planned, Humphrey goes home Thursday.