Leland Shoemake’s parents never imagined that their bright, happy six-year-old would be taken from them by something as cruel as a brain-eating amoeba. But in their deepest sorrow, they found a note that would become their most treasured possession.
Leland was a child who adored learning, history documentaries, and playing outside. But in 2015, a sudden illness led to a horrifying diagnosis: Balamuthia mandrillaris, a rare and fatal infection. Despite medical efforts, Leland passed away just days later.
Returning home after saying their final goodbyes, Amber and Tim Shoemake found a folded piece of paper on their living room table. Unfolding it, they saw Leland’s handwriting:
“Stil with you. Thank you mom / thank you dad. Love.”
A red heart, labeled with “mom,” “dad,” and “love,” sat beside the words.
Amber later shared that Leland was always leaving them little love notes—but this one, discovered after his death, felt like a final embrace. “He was always that kind of sweet,” she wrote.
Though the pain of losing him will never fade, Leland’s note remains a symbol of the love that endures—even in the darkest of times.
