When the Orlando Gunman Threatened Her Son, This 49-Year-Old Mom Did the Unthinkable

Mom Brenda Marquez McCool was out with her 21-year-old son Isaiah at the gay nightclub in Orlando, FL on the night of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. The 49-year-old mom of 11 was enjoying a Latin night of dancing with her son when the shots began to ring out.

According to her sister-in-law Ada Pressley, Brenda instantly spotted the gunman. And her mama bear instincts kicked in immediately.

Ada said, “Brenda saw him point the gun. She said, ‘Get down,’ to Isaiah and she got in front of him.”

New York native Brenda, who was a two-time cancer survivor and had moved to Orlando to be closer to her younger children, ended up literally jumping in front of a bullet for Isaiah. After she was shot, panic ensued and the two were separated in the venue. Once the gunman was killed, Isaiah was brought to safety.

But Brenda did not survive.

A grieving Isaiah later wrote on Facebook, “Just laying here thinking that I was just with my mom 24 hours ago, this is so surreal. I love you mom.”

Ada said that if it wasn’t for Brenda’s sacrifice for her beloved boy, Isaiah would have been the one who died instead.

“She was shot dead,” Ada said. “That’s how much she loved her kids.”

All of the Orlando shooting victims and their families and friends, including Brenda and Isaiah, are in our thoughts and prayers.

via For Every Mom