Losing a child is an unimaginable heartbreak—one that Amber and Tim Shoemake know all too well.
Their 6-year-old son, Leland Shoemake from Williamson, Georgia, was a bright, joyful boy with a love for learning. By age one, he already knew his ABCs, numbers, shapes, and sight words. He adored documentaries, history, and movies like Jaws. His mother fondly called him their “little nerd.”
In 2015, Leland suddenly fell ill and was hospitalized. Doctors discovered he had a rare and deadly brain infection caused by the amoeba Balamuthia mandrillaris, possibly contracted from playing in the dirt—his favorite pastime.
Despite fighting hard, Leland passed away on September 25, 2015.
When his parents returned home to gather clothes for his burial, they found a note he had left behind: “Still with you… Thank you mom and dad… Love,” with a heart that read “mom, dad, love.”
The message was a final, unexpected comfort—a reminder of the deep bond they shared and Leland’s lasting spirit.