Stories are still emerging in the wake of the Nashville Christmas Day bombing about the people and the lives that were affected.

One of those that has had their story brought to light is musician Buck McCoy. He was one of the first to share video of the devastation, because the building he lived in was directly in the blast zone.

While he lost his home, he was more worried about his cat Molly, who he was unable to retrieve as he made his way out of the wreckage of the blown-out apartment. He tried to go back, but firefighters informed him it was too dangerous for him to go searching.

Needing a miracle, Buck and Molly got it. After posting flyers searching for his beloved pet, Molly was found and returned a couple of days later. Buck sent a message of thanks to all who helped in the two reuniting, “All the animal lovers around the world I want to say thank you. She’s here, she’s alive, everything’s going to work out fine.”

Buck received another special surprise this week. Since he lost a lot of his music equipment in the blast, fellow guitarist Brad Paisley reached out and wanted to give Buck one of his guitars. At first he thought it was just one of his friends trying to cheer him up posing as Brad, but soon Buck realized that it was in fact the real Brad reaching out with a gift and a message. Buck shares, “He said I want to hook you up with a guitar so you can get back to work and make a living.”

Brad is just one of many artists that have reached out with well wishes and words of encouragement.

When it comes to the last week of his life, and moving forward Buck says “I can’t just sit around and think about it over and over and the memory comes back, it’s just, I need to create new memories; I need to create fun experiences; and then water those experiences; and let those old weeds die in the back.”

In a first step on creating new experiences, Buck is back to performing on Nashville’s lower Broadway (which is in throwing distance of the bombing area) playing a guitar with a special message written on it “Buck, Twang on pal! Glad you’re still here. Brad”

Headline Photo Credit: Jeff Lipsky

Additional Photo courtesy of Buck McCoy