A sad but touching story in Georgia where the parents of a six-year-old boy who died last week discovered a heart-tugging goodbye note.

Leland Shoemake died five days ago from an amoebic brain infection. When his mother, Amber Shoemake, returned home for the first time to get clothes for his burial, she made an incredible find: a note from her son, left gently for his family on a living room table.

The note reads: “Still with you. Thank you Mom and Dad.”

“We have no idea when he wrote it but you can tell he was always a special child,” Amber said. “We will love you forever Leland. Sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite!”

Amber’s touching tribute to her son was posted to the Prayers for Leland Facebook page, where among other things, she shared about Leland’s love of history, Adam Sandler, and his academic strengths as a student.

Itls A Heartbreaking Reality That People Sometimes Face The Loss Of Their Sons And Daughters In Tragic Accidents, Cancer
Battles, Or Other Diseases.

And It Might Be A Good Idea To Grab Some Tissues For This Story, The Of 6-Year-Old Leland Shoemake ~ Because Its Definitely
An Emotional Ride.

Leland Shoemake Was An Ordinary 6-Year-Oid From Williamson, Georgia. His Infectious Happiness, Sharp Intellect, And Creative
Spirit Left An Indelible Mark On Those Who Knew Him.

“He Knew His Abc’s, Numbers, Colors, Shapes And 20 Sight Words By The Time He Was A Year Old. He Was Our Little Nerd And We
Loved That About Him. He Loved School And Loved To Learn. He Loved The History Channel, The Weather Channel, Documentaries
And Anything About History. His Mother, Amber Shoemake, Shared On Social Media.

‘Under Different Circumstances, His Name Might Never Have Reached Our Ears — However, Fate Hod Different Plans In Store For
Leland.

Contracted Brain Bacteria

Everything Began In 2015, When Leland Suddenly Fell Il And Was Swiftly Admitted To The Hospital. His Condition Rapidly Deteriorated
And Soon, The Doctors Found Out That He Had A Brain Infection Caused By The Amoeba Balamuthia Mandrillrs. No One Really Knew
How Leland Got The Bacteria, But He May Have Come Into Contact With It While Playing Outdoors.

“The One Thing He Loved Most Was Playing In The Dirt.” Mrs Shoemake Wrote On Her Facebook Post And Continued:

“I Never Imagined That Would Be The Thing That Would Take Him From Me.”

Initially, Medical Professionals Were Perplexed By Leland’s Iness, Suspecting Meningitis As The Cause. However, Upon Further
Investigation, They Confirmed That He Was Indeed Suffering From An Amebic Infection In His Brain.

“He Has Had Bad Headaches, Fever, Vomiting Diarrhea, Dizziness, And Now His Eyes Are Crossed And He Can’t Focus On Anything.
‘Without His Eyes Moving And Seeing Double.” His Mom On The Family’s GoFundme Page.

Leland Fought Hard For His Life, But On September 25, 2015, He Passed Away.

As His Parents Returned Home From The Hospital Where They Had Bid Their Final Farewels To Their Beloved Son, Waves Of Sorrow
Engulfed Them. However, Amidst The Overwhelming Grief, Their Attention Was Drawn To An Object Resting On The Family’s Living.
Room Table.

Leland, Known For His Endearing Habit Of Leaving Notes And Drawings For His Parents, Had Left One Last Heartfelt Message.

The Note React ‘Stil (Sic) With You_ Thank You Mom And Dad._ Love: He Also Drew A Red Heart That Contained Three Words: Mom,
Dad And Love.

Its Nearly Impossible To Fathom The Depth Of Meaning And Comfort It Must Have Brought To The Grieving Parents During Such A
Trying Time. Leland’s Note Served As A Bitterswest Reminder Of The Love And Connection They Shared, Offering A Glimmer Of Solace.
In The Midst Of Their Heartbreaking Loss.

“We Have No Idea When He Wrote It But You Can Tell He Was Always A Special Child.” His Mother Said.

For Your Convenience, The Entire Story From The Leland Shoemake Foundation Has Been Quoted Below:

This Is Amber. This Will Be My Only Post On Here For Awhile.

1 Was Over Protective Of Leland And Tried My Best To Keep Him Safe. The One Thing He Loved Most Was Playing In The Dirt. Never
Imagined That Would Be The Thing That Would Take Him From Me. He Was My World. He Made Me A Mother. We Struggled So Hard To
Have Him. He Was A Preemie Baby But Came Out Screaming And Healthy. He Was Smart From Day One. He Knew His Abc’s Numbers,
Colors, Shapes And 20 Sight Words By The Time He Was A Year Old. He Was Our Little Nerd And We Loved That About Him. He Loved
School And Loved To Learn.

He Loved The History Channel. The Weather Channel, Documentaries And Anything About History. He Loved Ships Like The Titanic
And Learning About Things Like WWIL. He Was Perfect. His Favorite Movie Was Jaws. His Favorite Director Was Steven Spielberg. And
His Favorite Actor Was Adam Sandler. He Loved His Brother And His Family So Much. He Was The Life Of Every Party. His Smile Could
Light Up A City. He Was The Smartest, Most Caring, Loving Little Boy There Ever Was.

He Could Have Done Great Things In This World. We Would Only Have A Few Friends In This County If It Wasn’t For Leland. He Never
Met A Stranger And He Loved Everyone. My Whole Life This Has Been My Only Fear And It Came True. No One Should Ever Have To
Bury A Child. | Always Said Hope Its Me That Goes First Bc | Don’t Think Im Strong Enough To Handle Something Like This.

It Still Doesn’t Seem Real To Me.

1Find Myself Sitting Here Remembering Things He Would Say And Quotes From Movies He Would Repeat. Like “Check Ya Later” From
Dazed And Confused. Or “You’re Gonna Need A Bigger Boat” From Jaws. Or All The Millon Things He Used To Say From Billy Madison.
He Was The Light Of Our Life And The Center Of This Family.

1 Count The Days Until Can See His Sweet Face Again And Hear That Beautiful Voice.

When Tim And | Came Home For The First Time To Get Him Clothes To Be Buried In, This Is The Note We Found From Him On The.
Table In The Living Room. We Have No Idea When He Wrote It But You Can Tell He Was Ahways A Special Child.

We Will Love You Forever Leland Sleep Tight And Don’t Let The Bed Bugs Bite!

Burying One’s Own Child Is The Most Devastating Experience A Parent Can Endure. However, Amidst The Immoasurable Pain, Is
Our Hope That We Can Continue To Share Leland’s Story, Ensuring He Is Never Forgotten.

Lot Us Remember Him For The Incredible Young Boy He Was And Let His Memory Serve As A Reminder For Us All To Cherish Each
Day Of Our Lives, For We Never Know When Circumstances May Suddenly Change.