OKBaby Mom Katelynn Ordone Honors Husband with Emotional Tribute to Late Son on First Father’s Day Since Tragedy
- Jun 17
- 4 min read
17 June 2025
Katelynn Ordone, known to millions as the mother behind the “Okay Baby” TikTok channel, shared a deeply moving Father’s Day tribute on June 15 that honored both her husband Jaelen and their late son, Preston. The emotional Instagram Reel arrived just seven weeks after the terrible accident that claimed Preston’s life at age two, and it found Ordone navigating grief, love, and hope all at once.
The video opens with a sweet home clip of young Preston in bed, awkwardly but endearingly attempting to wish his father a “Happy Father’s Day.” That moment sets the tone for a montage of quiet yet powerful domestic scenes: Jaelen brushing his daughter’s hair, playing with Preston outside, and sharing quiet moments of tenderness on the couch and at the dinner table. These are scenes of family life made all the more poignant by the shadow of tragedy.
An overlaying text from Katelynn reads: “I’ll never understand why Preston couldn’t be here with us today. But one thing I am sure of is… you are the best daddy in the world.” These words underscore the complexity of celebrating a day meant for joy, when deep grief is still so present.
That grief is not hidden. In the caption, Katelynn addresses the razor‑sharp reality: “No holiday will ever feel the same without our Preston, but all he ever knew was love from his daddy.” She adds a note of hopeful longing: “We may not understand now but we will see him again one day 🤍.” She frames the video as a tribute for Jaelen, calling him “the best daddy out there.”
The Ordone family first shared news of Preston’s passing after their truck veered off Louisiana’s Interstate 12 on April 24. Preston sustained fatal injuries, and both parents were seriously hurt, Katelynn suffered fractures and a concussion; Jaelen required emergency leg surgery. Preston’s cause of death was later ruled “blunt force injuries due to a motor vehicle crash,” and deemed accidental.
In the aftermath, the family faced confusion and conflicting narratives. Louisiana State Police initially said Preston was “improperly restrained,” a claim Katelynn's father later disputed, stating Preston had been properly buckled in a 360-degree seat. While the investigation continues, Katelynn has chosen to steer the focus away from blame or argument, her posts emphasize love, remembrance, and support.
The emotional weight of the tribute is compounded by the milestone: this was the first Father’s Day without Preston. For many parents, missing a child during commemorative occasions becomes especially painful. And here, on a day meant to celebrate fatherhood, the Ordone family shared their grief openly, using the opportunity to illustrate the ongoing impact of love even in the face of loss.
The video’s reception was immediate. Followers flocked to the comments section, offering words of comfort and solidarity. One commenter wrote, “There are no words. Thank you for letting us see him again, even for a moment.” Thousands more responded with crying emojis and expressions of empathy, acknowledging both Katelynn’s pain and her grace in sharing such vulnerable footage.
While the Ordone family’s online platform once attracted followers to lighthearted toddler antics, Katelynn’s decision to share these deeply personal moments underscores the evolving power of social media. A space once defined by viral kid videos is now a platform for public mourning, empathetic connection, and real grief. It speaks to the trust her audience has built with the family and their desire to hold space for both sorrow and celebration.
Behind the scenes, Katelynn has been open about the challenges of blending healing with performance in the public eye. She publicly thanked followers in late April for the outpouring of support, while acknowledging the emotional toll of scrolling through comments and images of Preston. Her vulnerability is raw: “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.
That same vulnerability colors this Father’s Day post. In choosing to spotlight both Jaelen’s role as a dad and Preston’s absence, Katelynn speaks to the duality of parenting after loss: honoring those still living, while keeping safe the memory of those who are gone.
It’s clear that grief and gratitude can coexist. Katelynn’s closing line “We will see him again one day” offers a glimpse into her emotional resilience and spiritual faith. It acknowledges an unfinished story, but signals that love does not end with death.
The Ordone family’s journey continues both online and off. A GoFundMe established after the crash has raised more than $30,000 to help cover medical costs and funeral expenses. As the spring turns to summer, Katelynn, Jaelen, and older sister Paisley are finding ways to move forward, day by day.
This Father’s Day, the Ordone family did more than mourn. They honored fatherhood by revealing how it stretches beyond birth and life, into grief, memory, and love that endures. Their tribute to Jaelen, and their decision to publicly remember Preston, show that in moments of unspeakable pain, simple gestures, a father's embrace, a video clip, the soft echo of a toddler’s voice can hold eternal meaning.
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