For Lillian Smart, a little girl remembered for her bright smile and joyful spirit, a simple day in the water ended in an unimaginable tragedy.
The 8-year-old Louisiana girl died over the weekend after developing an extremely rare infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the “brain-eating amoeba.”
Health officials believe Lillian was likely exposed while swimming in Lake Claiborne in north Louisiana.
Her parents, Daniel and Rebecca Smart, shared the heartbreaking news in a Facebook post Sunday.
“Last night Lillian ran from our arms to the arms of Jesus,” they wrote. “The injuries to her brain were too severe for her little body to recover from. Everyone did everything they could to keep her here.”
They added: “We are heartbroken and honestly do not know what to do next…”
Lillian had been hospitalized since August 15 after becoming infected with Naegleria fowleri, according to reports. Despite doctors’ efforts to save her, the infection caused devastating damage to her brain, and she could not recover.
The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed that the state had recorded its first known Naegleria fowleri infection since 2013. Officials said Lillian’s case was most likely connected to swimming in Lake Claiborne.
