A 14-year-old student from Houston tragically lost his life last week due to a brain injury he sustained during a football match. Cain Lee, an eighth grader, was injured in a Southwest Football League game on October 11. Following the incident, he was in a coma for almost three weeks at Texas Children’s Hospital before he passed away on October 30.
Cain’s father, Cody Lee, shared memories of his son during a memorial service at Friendswood Methodist Church. He recalled Cain’s kindness and generosity, recounting a story of how Cain would secretly bring clothes from home to give to a less fortunate classmate.
Cain was a versatile athlete, participating in multiple sports including baseball, basketball, and track. His baseball coach, Darrin Forse, remembered him as a selfless player who celebrated others’ achievements more than his own.
Troy Carroll, a relative of Cain, shared a Facebook post revealing that doctors had initially given Cain only 30 minutes to live after his injury. However, Cain fought for 22,840 minutes, defying the doctors’ expectations. Carroll described Cain as someone who lived by the rule of “one more rep,” always striving to do more and be better.
The Lee family is still grappling with their loss. Carroll mentioned that the family is “broken” and trying to “put the pieces back together.” Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham also expressed her condolences to the Lee family, acknowledging the heartbreaking loss.
The Southwest Football League addressed the tragic incident in a letter, expressing their deep sorrow for the family’s unimaginable loss. The league also announced plans to honor Cain with a moment of silence before all remaining games this season.