This Mom of 11 Died in Orlando After Jumping in Front of a Bullet to Protect Her Son

[Behind the Aegis]

Brenda Marquez McCool, 49, was a mom of 11 children from Brooklyn. McCool was with her son Isaiah, 21, who is gay, celebrating latin night at the LGBT club Pulse in Orlando. Her sister-in-law Ada Pressley said that wasn’t unusual—McCool loved dancing, especially salsa, and she wanted to support her LGBT family.

When ISIS-inspired gunman Omar Mateen, 29, started shooting at partygoers at Pulse, McCool’s mom instincts kicked in fast. Her sister-in-law Pressley told the New York Daily News, “Brenda saw him point the gun. She said, ‘Get down,’ to Isaiah and she got in front of him.”

“She was shot dead. That’s how much she loved her kids. If it weren’t for her, he’d of been shot,” she added.

A grief stricken Isaiah Henderson 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.”

more...

[MFM008]

1. every parent knows

the feeling that would prompt such an action.
a brave lady.
RIP.

[herding cats]

2. Such a wonderful, and loving mother.

It breaks my heart. Not just her sacrifice for her beloved son, all of it.

So many lives lost to mindless, blind hate.

Peace to Isaiah, his siblings and all those who are suffering.

[Behind the Aegis]

6. That would have been my mother.

I think it would like have been many a mother. From stories coming out about her, seems she was "mother" to many LGBT people. I have known women like that who "adopt" gay kids in the bars because so many have been abandoned by their own families.

[shenmue]

3. ...

[In_The_Wind]

4. .

[brer cat]

5. ...

Thanks for posting, BtA.

[m-lekktor]

7. KnR nt

[irisblue]

8. .

Here's to bad ass Mommas.

[uppityperson]

9. k&r, thank you for posting about the people

it's important we know them as individuals, not as numbers.

[Odin2005]

10. ...

[mcar]

11. A parent's love

Knows no boundaries. RIP, you wonderful hero.

[smirkymonkey]

12. So sad. What a brave woman.