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Losing a child is an unimaginable heartbreak\u2014one that Amber and Tim Shoemake know all too well.<\/p>\n
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<\/em>. His mother fondly called him their \u201clittle nerd.\u201d<\/p>\n 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<\/em>, possibly contracted from playing in the dirt\u2014his favorite pastime.<\/p>\n Despite fighting hard, Leland passed away on September 25, 2015.<\/p>\n When his parents returned home to gather clothes for his burial, they found a note he had left behind: \u201cStill with you\u2026 Thank you mom and dad\u2026 Love,\u201d<\/em> with a heart that read \u201cmom, dad, love.\u201d<\/p>\n The message was a final, unexpected comfort\u2014a reminder of the deep bond they shared and Leland\u2019s lasting spirit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Losing a child is an unimaginable heartbreak\u2014one 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….<\/p>\n