Katelynn and Jaelan Ordone are continuing to honor the legacy of son Preston, known as “Okay Baby” online, after his death at age 2.
Katelynn shared a glimpse of a flower memorial for Preston in a Sunday, May 4, Instagram video, which included an oversized pair of overalls covered in moss and flowers. Two easels were situated next to the overalls, with one including a photo of Preston and another featuring collage of pictures that spelled out his name.
“Preston was larger than life, just like these giant overalls,” the message on the easel read. “Add flowers into the overalls to help fill it out. If there’s no more space, feel free to remove a set of dried flowers, lay them at the base and replace them with new ones. You are welcome to add a prayer or sweet message for the Ordone family in the book.”
A table was placed beside the easel, with a book open for loved ones to write a message to the family. The video was set to Dani and Lizzy’s “Dancing in the Sky.”
“Flower Memorial for Preston Ordone,” the caption read. “In loving memory of Preston Ordone, A special tribute has been created to honor his life and spirit. A pair of overalls, made with love, are available at Glory Church for anyone who would like to stop by and place a flower in his memory. You are warmly invited to come as you are, at any time, to pay your respects and place a flower in the overalls as a symbol of love, remembrance, and support.”
Katelynn included details for the location of the memorial, which is situated in “the smaller arched building” at Glory Church in Slidell, Louisiana.
“Let us come together in remembrance to celebrate the life and light Preston brought into the world. 💙,” the caption concluded.
Family friends of Katelynn and Jaelan shared in April that Preston died in a single-vehicle car crash. Both of his parents were in the car at the time of the accident and suffered injuries, while 7-year-old sister Paisley was at school.
“Katelynn has multiple broken bones. She had a very bad concussion. She walked for the first time today,” the family friend said. “Jaelan had to have emergency surgery on one of his legs, he has rods in them, pins in them. They’re both at different hospitals.”
Days before the video, the Louisiana State Police addressed the accident via Facebook and shared that they are conducting an investigation, which includes a routine toxicology test of the driver for analysis. Authorities reported that the driver and front passenger of the vehicle were “both properly restrained,” while Preston was “seated in the rear, but improperly restrained in a child safety seat.”
Preston and Paisley’s grandfather Glen Norris later disputed the Louisiana State Police’s claims, telling Nola.com that he spoke with the witness and alleged that the toddler was properly restrained. Katelynn shared later that month that she had been discharged from the hospital, while Jaelan remained in the hospital.
“I think we all are trying … none of us really understand why or how this could happen, but y’all’s support has made a big difference in a lot of this. And I may not be able to watch everything, I may not be able to reply to every comment, because it’s really hard for me to look at it,” she said via Instagram, while becoming visibly emotional. “But I’m still seeing some things in here, how much you’ll love them, and it means a lot.”
