Gerber has announced the winner of their 2022 photo search…
And the winner is 7-month-old, Isa, from Oklahoma, who was born with a limb difference that left her missing part of her leg.
The malformation is called Congenital Femoral Deficiency and Fibular Hemimelia. Isa has had it since birth, but it hasn’t stopped the tot from smiling and playing. And she has clearly melted the hearts of the Gerber judges.
“We are completely ecstatic. This was such a big surprise,” Isa’s mom Meredith told TODAY Parents. “Whenever you enter your child in a contest like this, the expectation is that someone looks at her picture, so this is incredible and we are so happy.”
“Isa is a strong, amazing little girl that loves to interact with the world around her and nothing will stop her,” Meredith said about her little girl. “Her smile lights up the room and her laughter is irresistible.”
And Gerber clearly thinks so too.
“Before she was born in September of 2021, we knew Isa was special, and she has shown us that every day since she came into our lives,” Meredith said, sharing that she and her husband found out at eighteen weeks that Isa would have a limb deformity.
“While the world around us seeks to embrace individuality and uniqueness, we hope that awareness for limb differences will lead to greater inclusion for children like Isa.”
According to her mom, Isa loves playing with her big sister, 4-year-old, Temperance. “Her older sister Tempy absolutely adores her,” Meredith said. “They have a great bond.”
Gerber received a whopping 225,000 entries into this year’s competition, but it was baby Isa that stole the show.
“One of the things that has been so special for us is that she was chosen for her wonderful personality, her smile, her cheeks, her giggles, but also as a baby who represents diversity,” Meredith explained. “We are so happy that she can hopefully bring awareness to children born with limb differences and that is really special for us.”
As well as the $25k prize for baby Isa, which is being put towards her future medical costs, Gerber is contributing a matching donation to March of Dimes’ health programs for mothers and their babies.
“I think it’s amazing to know that the additional resource is going to be provided to babies and mothers,” Dad, John, said. “I wouldn’t have asked for anything else other than that. There’s so much need.”
“We hope Isa’s story can bring more awareness for limb differences and create greater inclusion for children like her,” Meredith said. “Because, just like Isa, they, too, can be or do anything they want.”
How incredible!