Mother Donates Stuffed Animals To EMSA In Honor Of Her Late Son

More than five percent of deaths among emergency medical technicians are suicides, according to the National Library of Medicine.  

September is mental health awareness month where people raise awareness about these issues.

One mother wishes people talked about it more. Sonia Kakalow knew her son Austin wanted to help people from a young age.   

“He just wanted everybody to be happy,” Kakalow said. “When he was 12, he came to us and told us he wanted to do Civil Air Patrol.”

Austin served the Burlington Fire Department in Kentucky when he was just a teenager.

“When he graduated, he had his EMT,” Kakalow said.

Austin traveled the country helping people. Austin’s time with FEMA in New York sticks out for Sonia.

“Before COVID was even a word FEMA was saying, ‘Hey we need help,’” Kakalow said.

Austin never hesitated.

“Austin was the first to put his hand up and say, 'hey I’ll go,'” Kakalow said. “He said he was spending entire days. They were just pulling bodies out." 

The pandemic took a big piece of Austin.

“The fact that he couldn’t help everybody – was what he had PTSD over. It was his big heart that did it in the end,” Kakalow said.

While working for EMSA last November, Austin took his own life, he was 23 years old.

“I tell everybody I meet, ‘talk, talk about your problems,’” Kakalow said. “Make sure you’re talking to somebody.”

Austin was brought back to rest in Arizona. EMSA’s team welcomed Austin home with an honor guard. 

“That was amazing that they did that for him,” Kakalow said.

Kakalow continued Austin’s mission.

“I wound up collecting over 600 stuffed animals,” Kakalow said.

Paramedics will give them to children during emergencies.

“He would have wanted to be there to comfort people and help them,” Kakalow said. “That’s exactly what stuffed animals do.”

Austin gave his heart to anyone who needed it, and a piece of him lives on to help the next person in need.

“We miss him a lot,” Kakalow said.

Anyone in need of help, self-care, or experiencing a crisis, can call or text the 988 lifeline.