It is a heartbreaking reality that parents sometimes lose their kids or daughters to horrible accidents, cancer, or other diseases.
Additionally, it might be a good idea to bring some tissues because this story about 6-year-old Leland Shoemake is definitely an emotional one.
Leland Shoemake was a normal six-year-old from Williamson, Georgia. His infectious enthusiasm, sharp mind, and creative spirit left a lasting impression on everyone he came into contact with.
He knew his ABCs, numbers, colors, shapes, and twenty sight words by the time he was a year old. He was our little nerd, and we loved that. He liked going to school and learning. His mother, Amber Shoemake, posted on social media that her son loved everything historical, including documentaries, the weather channel, and the history channel.
We would never have heard of him if events had gone differently, but fate had other plans for Leland.
Brain microbes that have been exposed to
It all began in 2015 when Leland took ill without warning and was admitted to the hospital right away. As his condition rapidly deteriorated, the doctors immediately determined that the amoeba Balamuthia mandrillaris was the cause of his brain disease. No one was completely certain how Leland got the bacteria, however it was possible that he did so while playing outside.
After seven years without you, we’re still unsure of what to do. We’ve tried everything this time of year, and the only
The Leland Shoemake Foundation published this on Tuesday, September 27, 2022.
“Playing in the dirt was the one thing he loved most,” Mrs. Shoemake wrote on Facebook. She continued by saying:
“I never imagined that would be the reason he left me.”
Initially, physicians were perplexed by Leland’s illness and believed it could be meningitis. He did, however, have an amebic infection in his brain, which they were able to establish after additional investigation.
“He’s had severe headaches, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and dizziness, and now his eyes are crossed and he can’t focus on anything without his eyes moving and seeing double,” his mother wrote on the family’s GoFundMe page.
On September 25, 2015, Leland passed away in spite of his heroic attempts.
When his parents returned home from the hospital after saying their final goodbyes to their beloved child, waves of anguish washed over them. They saw something on the family’s living room table, nevertheless, while they were in the midst of their deep grief.
Leland, famous for his endearing habit of sending his parents letters and drawings, had left one last, heartfelt note.
“Stil (sic) with you,” it said. Parents, thank you. Love. He also drew the words “love,” “dad,” and “mom” on a crimson heart.
It is nearly impossible to imagine how much solace and meaning it must have brought to the grieving parents during such a trying period. Leland’s note, which served as a bittersweet reminder of their love and connection, offered some solace throughout their heartbreaking loss.
“Even though we don’t know when he wrote it,” his mother said, “you can tell he was always a special child.”
For your convenience, the entire tale is included in the following quotation from The Leland Shoemake Foundation:
This is Amber. This will be my only post on this blog for a long.
I was excessively protective of Leland, so I did everything I could to keep him safe. His favorite thing to do was play in the dirt. I never imagined he would leave me for that reason. To me, he was everything. I got a kid from him. Having him was incredibly tough for us. He yelled and was healthy, despite being born too soon. He was bright from the beginning. He knew his ABCs, numbers, colors, shapes, and twenty sight words by the time he was a year old. He was our little nerd, and we loved that. He liked going to school and learning.
He loved all things historical, including the history channel, the weather channel, and documentaries. He liked learning about ships like the Titanic and World War II. He was perfect. His favorite movie was Jaws. His favorite director was Steven Spielberg. His favorite actor was Adam Sandler. He loved his brother and his family very much. He was vital to all the parties. His smile could light up an entire city. He was the smartest, sweetest, and most loving child in history.
He might have done amazing things in this world. We wouldn’t have many friends in this county if it weren’t for Leland. He never met a stranger and loved everyone. This was the only thing I feared in life, and it happened. It should never be necessary to bury a child. I always said, “I hope it’s me that goes first,” because I don’t think I’m strong enough to handle anything like this.
It still doesn’t seem real to me.
I can’t stop thinking about the things Dad used to say and the movie lines he would bring up while I sit here. Like “check ya later” from confused and stunned. The line “you’re going to need a bigger boat” from Jaws Or all the million things Billy Madison used to say.
He was the center of our family and the reason we were happy.
I can’t wait to see his beautiful face and hear his beautiful voice again.
When Tim and I initially came home to get him some burial clothes, we found this message from him on the table in the living room. Even if we don’t know when he wrote it, it’s clear that he was always a special kid.
We will always love you, Leland. Get enough sleep and be safe from bed bugs!
The burial of one’s own kid is the hardest experience a parent can have. We hope that we can continue to convey Leland’s story and ensure that he never passes away, despite the unimaginable anguish.
Since we never know when things will change, we should all remember him and use his memory as a reminder to live each day to the fullest. He was an incredible young child.
