Watch out, folks, this is not the plot line of some Hollywood zombie movie. A rare and very deadly brain-eating parasite has cropped up twice in Florida during the past month, and one of the children afflicted is still holding on for his life.

12-year-old Zachary Reyna is fighting for his life after he was infected by a Naegleria fowleri amoeba while kneeboarding in a water-filled ditch near his house. The parasite thrives in high temperature shallow waters. 

Reyna's family first realized something was wrong when he slept the entire day after swimming in the ditch. Once they took him to the hospital, doctors were able to surmise that Reyna was in fact suffering from a brain parasite, and immediately sent him into brain surgery. "He's fighting and he's strong, he's really really strong," said brother Brandon Villarreal.

Nearly everyone who becomes afflicted with the amoeba, contracting what is known as parasitic meningitis, ends up dying. So far in the past 50 years, only three people have ended up surviving. One of those happens to be a fellow twelve-year-old, Kali Hardig. She recently came out of coma caused by the parasite after becoming infected Jul. 19.

"We continue to be amazed by Kali's progress," her family said in a statement Thursday. "Today she's able to sit up on her own, write some words on a white board and stand with assistance for very brief stretches. She's even able to throw and catch a ball with her therapists. We are grateful for the continued prayers from Kali's supporters, which no doubt drive her recovery."

Kali's near miraculous recovery is fueling hope for the Reyna family that their son may be able to make it out alive as well. It's truly remarkable that anyone has been able to survive such an infection, as it immediately begins to destroy brain tissue, leading to brain swelling and very quickly, death.

"We've went from being told that our little girl wouldn't survive this amoeba to now they're saying that Kali is going to be the third survivor and going to get to go home," Kali's mother Traci Hardig said.

Hardig is believed to have become infected while she was playing at the Willow Springs Water Park in Central Arkansas. Another case of the parasite cropped in the same area in 2010, and Willow Springs was a possible site of infection then as well. Health officials are now asking the water park to shutter its operation as a precaution.

"Based on the occurrence of two cases of this rare infection in association with the same body of water and the unique features of the park, the ADH has asked the owner of Willow Springs to voluntarily close the water park to ensure the health and safety of the public," the health department said.

So far, Willow Springs Water Park has yet to comply with the health department's request. They state that their water is all pH-balanced, treated, and chlorinated.