It’s a story her family will tell for the rest of her life, and thanks in part to the Mary Free Bed Orthotics & Prosthetics + Bionics team, her family has a permanent keepsake to go along with it.
When Katerina Buck first learned that her daughter Stella would need a cranial remolding helmet to help her skull grow correctly, she felt guilty, thinking it was her fault. Shannon Abbott, Stella’s orthotist at Mary Free Bed, assured Buck that wasn’t the case.
“You do the best you can, and it still happens. That’s why helmet treatment exists,” Abbott said.
Little did Buck know, the helmet, along with her adorable 9-month-old, would soon become an icon. Stella stole the show at the US Open, capturing hearts with her adorable smile and stylish pink accessory.
“Everybody turned their heads. Whether that was curiosity, cuteness, or concern, I don’t know. It was insane,” Buck told WOOD-TV.
Stella’s stylish helmet earned her attention and autographs from around a dozen tennis superstars, including Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz.
A video of Stella getting signatures with the caption “the most iconic baby at the US Open” was shared on social media and quickly racked up millions of views. Stella gained national attention and was featured by ESPN, the New York Post, People and NBC’s “Today”. Her story was also shared locally by WOOD-TV.
Buck started working on preserving the signatures while she was at the US Open, trying to be careful with the helmet but still worried they would fade. That’s when Mary Free Bed stepped in.
“We made a call to Orth America, the company that makes the helmets, and asked them, ‘Hey, we have this situation; you might have seen this baby at the U.S. Open. It’s one of ours, and we would really like to potentially get her a second helmet, if that’s possible.’ And they were happy to do that for us,” Abbott explained to WOOD-TV.
Some people have joked that the helmet could pay for college one day, but for Stella’s mom, it’s a priceless reminder that life’s quirkiest detours can lead to the most beautiful memories.
Stella is currently in the running for Variety’s Baby of the Year competition. The winner will appear in a Variety advertorial and receive a $25,000 cash prize. Cast your vote for Stella here.
