Metro Atlanta Boy Fights for Life, Diagnosed with Serious Illness

ATLANTA - A prayer vigil will took place Tuesday night for a 6-year-old Georgia boy battling a serious form of meningitis.

Leland Shoemake is receiving treatment at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta after an amoeba called balamuthia mandrillaris caused meningitis. The first grader was admitted to Children’s last week.

Leland's mother, Amber Shoemake, said it's not contagious and he got it from playing in the dirt. 

"It's everywhere, just not everyone gets infected," said Shoemake. 

“Leland has gotten worse,” his family said on Facebook Monday. “He’s being kept sedated but his pressures keep spiking. They did a ct and it shows swelling in the brain and decreased overall quality of his brain. Also it looked like the infection has gotten worse.”

View the "Prayers for Leland" Facebook page. A family friend set up the Facebook page to post updates on Leland's condition.

A prayer vigil was held at the Pike Primary school track in South Zebulon, Georgia. 

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help with Leland's medical expenses. If you would like to donate, click here. 

"Please continue to pray for our boy," his mother said.