Tony Marrero was enjoying a night out with one of his best friends at Pulse nightclub in Orlando when a shooter ended the lives of 49 people.
Marrero was shot in the arm and four times in the back that night. His friend and coworker, Luis Vielma, was killed.
The survivor appears on today's episode of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," where he opens up about how Katy Perry's Olympic theme song "Rise" helped him through his recovery.
"The lyrics to that song are so powerful. Every word to that song is just powerful," he explains. "So I embrace that and my boyfriend is annoyed already by that song. I play it and play it and play it because it is so beautiful."
Ellen, being Ellen, has a surprise in store for Marrero: Katy herself.
It's an emotionally charged moment as the singer walks out on stage, both Perry and Marrero crying as they embrace.
"I folded a napkin in my hand like a little granny," Katy says through tears as they sit down to chat with DeGeneres. "Your story is so inspirational."
"I just want to say thank you for everything that you do," Tony tells her. "Your lyrics to that song helped me from the day I was in the hospital all the way to now. You're amazing."
"We're both lights," she replies. "I'm happy to be a joy, I'm happy to be a light and happy I could be there in my own little way to help you. "
Katy then gives Tony one more surprise: telling him she's going to pay for his first year of film school tuition herself.
Watch the moving moment above -- and hear Marrero describe his account of the shooting below.
Ellen also presents a $25,0000 check to the official GoFundMe page for Pulse Victims on behalf of Shutterfly. Find out how you can help here.
