Kain Sarros, a graduate of Okeechobee High School, was traveling home from a job interview around 5 p.m. on Dec. 18 when his motorcycle was t-boned on U.S. 441 South in front of Ford Motor Company. Kain lost his left leg and suffered multiple other injuries in the accident and was life-flighted to Lawnwood Memorial.
Kain’s parents credit several people with saving his life. His mother Kim explained that a woman stopped and using the belt of a young man who also pulled over, she was able to slow the blood loss from his leg amputation. She was unable to completely stop the loss, but there was another miracle waiting in the wings that day as well.
Off-duty Okeechobee County Deputy Michael Cauley was at soccer practice at Oakview Church when he heard a call over his radio. When he heard the severity of the call, he said he needed to go and rushed to the scene. There, he was able to apply a tourniquet which completely staunched the bleeding.
Kain spent several weeks in the hospital and close to a week in rehab before coming home to his family. “He just wanted to come home,” said his dad Kenny. He said Kain was in a rehab with older adults, who struggled with rehabilitation, but due to his age and his upper body strength, Kain was doing great and thought he could continue his progress at home surrounded by family.
Possibly thanks to his discipline and training from the United States Army, Kain has been able to progress at home.
Following in his older brother’s footsteps, Kain joined the Army immediately out of high school and served eight years. Strangely enough, said his dad, only two of those years were actually spent on an Army base. The others were spent on Air Force and Marine bases.
Kain trained as a veterinarian tech and worked with K-9s while in on active duty. About a year ago, he was discharged and joined the army Reserves, this time, training as a mechanic. Only a few weeks before his accident, Kain moved back to Okeechobee and began looking for a job here.
Kain’s dad said Kain has always been a hard worker and had plans to go back into the Army full-time, but until then, was looking for something to help pay his bills and save for the future.
Kain will be fitted for a prosthetic leg after his injuries have healed, but his femur was shattered, and this will delay his healing for several more months. In the meantime, Kain still has bills to pay, a truck payment, insurance, phone bill, etc. and has no income.
His family said they have never been the type to ask for help, but sometimes you must learn to accept it when it’s offered. Rather than establishing a GoFundMe, they have decided to hold a Fish Fry Fundraiser for Kain. Not that they have any problem with a GoFundMe or people who use them they explained. They just prefer not to do that if they don’t have to.
The Fish Fry will take place on Feb. 18 from 5-7 p.m. at the Fraternal Order of the Orioles in the building previously owned by the VFW. The address is 300 NW 34th Street.
Because they do not have a lot of money to spare at this time, the family asks that you preorder the meals, so they know how many to prepare. The deadline to preorder is THIS Wednesday, Feb. 14. Please call or text Kenny at 863-623-6154.
“Come help a guy get back on his feet, or at least his foot and prosthetic,” said Kenny.
Kain has had several ask if they can just donate money to help him, and he is uncomfortable with what he considers charity. His dad came up with an idea to help Kain with this. He printed up stock certificates. Each person donating money is given a stock certificate which they fill out with their name, the amount donated and their phone number. At the bottom, the certificate reads, “Donation incurs 1% interest and will be paid back within two years.” Copies of these certificates are plastering Kain’s room, where they give him hope, and his parents can use them as visual reminders of the people who have confidence in him.
The Sarros family is very grateful to each and every person who had any part in helping their son in his time of need.