Brenda Lee Marquez McCool lost her life at the Pulse nightclub shooting.

According to a Go Fund Me page set up by one of her sons Farrell Marshall, “She now leaves 11 children alone on this earth who’s in need of dire help from anyone.”

Friends say the 49-year-old often enjoyed fun nights out with her 21-year-old son Isaiah Henderson, who is gay, and this weekend was meant to be no different.

Just two hours before Mateen opened fire on the club with bullets, she uploaded a video of them dancing to her Facebook page (you can view the video at the top of this post).

She was pronounced dead at 6.23pm later that day.

Family and friends say Brenda loved to go out dancing with her son.Source:Facebook

Her son Isaiah survived the attack, but had to look on as his own mother lost her life.

New York Daily News is reporting that Brenda died trying to protect her son.

As bodies fell around them, Ms McCool saw Mateen turn his weapon at them, her sister-in-law Ada Pressley said.

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

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

According toPeople, when Isaiah tried to stop and help his mother, she told him to, “Just run, go.”

At the time of her death Brenda had survived one bout of cancer, and was battling leukaemia.

Brenda’s hair was short due to bouts of chemotherapy.Source:Facebook

Actor Wilson Cruz, a relative of Brenda’s, called her “a cancer survivor. A stellar mother. A proud and fierce advocate for her LGBT family”.

Her ex-husband Robert Vance Pressley said: “She loved to dance. She was selfless, always giving of herself. All the kids in the neighbourhood were part of her extended family.”

In the first few hours of the Go Fund Me page going live, more than 300 people had already donated more than $27,000.

The shooting has since been claimed by Islamic State, and people all over the world are mourning the horrific act. Thousands are queuing to donate blood to the survivors, others are expressing their condolences via social media, and even more are opening up the anti-gun debate with fervour.

While every little bit of support and solidarity helps, it doesn’t change the fact that the lives of those like Brenda’s children will look very different now that they’ve lost their mother.

Brenda proudly supported her son as a member of the LGBT community.Source:Facebook

Brenda’s son Farrell was clearly emotional, confused and scared for his siblings’ futures as he composed the Go Fund Me page.

“She just went out last night and said goodbye to her children and to be called 3 hours later that she has been hit by 2 gunshots and later pronounced dead and to be among the (49) killed this very day is beyond me.”

“One decision changed the lives of many. All I ask is for prayers and whatever you can to help me and brothers (and) sisters to be able to pick up the pieces where she left off. You will forever be in our hearts. Always. I truly love you so much MOM!”

This article was written in conjunction with Kidspot.