Parents find loving note from six-year-old son days after his death

Leland Shoemake is thought to have died from a rare brain infection

The note Leland Shoemake left for his parents. (Amber Shoemake/Facebook)

A mother and father found their six-year-old son's poignant loving letter to them lying on their living room table - days after he died from a rare brain infection.

Leland Shoemake fell ill a month ago and passed away at the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta hospital on Friday.

But his grieving mother, Amber Shoemake, said they came across the note when they first returned home following his death.

The letter reads "Still with you. Thank you mom and dad. Love. Good day". Three words: love, mom and dad, appear in a heart.

This is Amber. This will be my only post on here for awhile. I was over protective of Leland and tried my best to keep...

Posted by Prayers for Leland on Monday, 28 September 2015

Writing on a Facebook page created for her son, Ms Shoemake said: "When Tim and I came home from 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. Sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite!"

He is thought to have died from an infection caused by the amoeba Balamuthia mandrillaris, which is found in soil and is known to cause infections in humans.

Before he died, Leland's parents set up a GoFundMe page to help contribute to his medical costs. They have now said they will use the donations to pay for Leland's funeral service, which was held on Monday.

Writing on the Facebook page after his death, his mother said: "I was over protective of Leland and tried my best to keep him safe. 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.

"He was my world. 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 light of our life and the centre of this family."