This past week, Leland Shoemake, a 6-year-old boy, passed away after fighting a month-long battle of amebic infection. As his parents, Amber and Tim Shoemake, arrived home from picking up the clothes Leland would be wearing to his burial, they found a heart-warming note that Leland wrote for them.
"Still with you," it read. "Thank you mom and dad."
On a recent Facebook post, Amber wrote, "When Tim and I 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 always a special child. We will love you forever, Leland."
In that same post, she also shared special facts and personal memories of her son Leland.
"He was smart from day one. He knew his abc's, numbers, colors, shapes and 20 sight words by the time he was a one 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 WWII. 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."
Amber even mentioned, "The one thing he loved most was playing in the dirt. I never imagined that would be the thing that would take him from me." This is when Leland most likely caught Balamuthia mandrillarisis, which causes a serious infection of the brain and spinal cord.
"He has been at children's hospital for six days now. He has several teams of multiple doctors working with him and treating him. He's on 10 different medications and they all have terrible side effects. He's soiled himself a few times from the medication as well. 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. The thing we ask for most is prayers for fast healing, smart doctors, less pain, and no long term effects," Amber posted on the Shoemake family's GoFundMe page. As of today, it has raised well over $21,000 for Leland's treatment costs. "He was taken from us too soon. He could have done great things in this world."
As the world became aware of Leland's touching note, it is agreeable that he would've done exactly what Amber said -- great things.
On Oct. 1, she posted, "I'm hoping God continues to help us through this and our community continues to support us. I pray that God continues to give us strength. From now on we will honor Leland in everything we do."
