At a Glance
- Katelynn Ordone posted her first TikTok on Jan. 13 after a three-week social-media pause following the death of her 2-year-old son, Preston.
- Preston died from blunt-force injuries in an April 2024 single-car crash in Louisiana; both parents survived.
- The influencer told her 1 million-plus followers she is ready to share memories of Preston and help others who are grieving.
Why it matters: The return shows how social-media creators navigate public grief and use their platforms for healing.
Katelynn Ordone, the TikTok mom whose toddler son Preston was killed in a crash last spring, has reappeared online after a self-imposed hiatus she announced one day before what would have been his third birthday.
The Crash That Changed Everything
On an undisclosed date in April 2024, the family’s Ford F-150 left the road and struck a tree in Louisiana. A Louisiana State Police release issued the same day said both Katelynn and husband Jaelen were in the vehicle and survived. The St. Tammany Parish coroner’s office later confirmed to News Of Losangeles that Preston died of blunt-force injuries and that the death was ruled accidental.
The toddler had become a familiar face to followers under the nickname “Okay Baby,” regularly featured in his mother’s videos.
Stepping Away to Heal
On Dec. 26, 2024, Katelynn told fans she needed “a mental health break.”
“I never let myself take a step back,” she said, explaining that constant posting had become part of her coping strategy. “What I need right now to heal is just to focus on the things that are physically around me – I need to focus on my daughter, family and friends that are around me.”
The announcement came less than 24 hours before Preston’s birthday, a date she knew would be especially painful.
The Return Video
Her first post back, uploaded Jan. 13, opens with gratitude.
“I needed to get off my phone for a while and focus on my daughter and family and friends around me,” she says in the clip. “That has been really helpful for me and really healing, and I feel ready to come back now.”
Katelynn, who is also mom to daughter Paisley, outlined two goals:
- Use the account to honor Preston’s memory
- Offer support to others who are grieving
She hopes to balance remembrance with lighter moments, admitting she sometimes feels guilty enjoying life without him.
“I know that’s what Preston would want,” she said. “He wants his mom and his sister to live a good life. He wouldn’t want me sad.”
Life Before the Hiatus
Prior to her break, Katelynn had posted several raw updates about grief:
- A six-months-later video chronicling how the loss reshaped family life
- Clips from their first Thanksgiving without Preston
- Reflections on daily waves of sadness
Those posts drew millions of likes and tens of thousands of supportive comments.
Looking Ahead
Katelynn told followers she wants to “get over” the guilt that surfaces when she experiences joy. She believes she is “getting close to being able to do that” and thanked her community for patience.
In the meantime, she promised to keep sharing authentically, whether discussing sorrow or posting the occasional lighthearted family moment.
Key Takeaways
- Katelynn Ordone took three weeks off social media after announcing Dec. 26 she needed to heal
- Her 2-year-old son Preston died in an April 2024 crash that both parents survived
- The creator returned Jan. 13 with plans to honor Preston and help others who are grieving
