Orlando City Stadium in Florida played host to a U.S. Women’s Soccer League match on the 20th. The Orlando Pride, hailing from Florida, faced off against the Sky Blue team on their home turf, ultimately securing a 1-0 victory. Among the spectators in the stands was a familiar face. On the 23rd (local time), Fox News and other media outlets reported that Joseph Teed, affectionately known as the ‘handless baby angel,’ made a special visit to the stadium to show his support for his role model, the ‘handless soccer star’ Carson Pickett.
Teed, who was a mere one year old at the time, caught sight of Amy Alamiyo-Siecel, who, like him, was missing her left hand. Without a moment’s hesitation, Teed rushed over to share a warm hug and engage with her.
In February, Teed had garnered attention once again for a heartwarming encounter with NFL linebacker Shaquem Griffin (24), who also has no hands.
Teed, who is now 18 months old, was born with a congenital disability that left him without an arm or hand below his left elbow. The heartwarming image of him embracing a woman with a similar condition at a gathering last year led to him earning the endearing local nickname, the ‘handless baby angel.’ The image of Teed reaching out to hug Amy Alamiyoshi Essel, who shared his condition, touched the hearts of those who witnessed it. This act of love and affection earned Teed further attention, and his encounter with NFL linebacker Shaquem Griffin in February only added to his inspiring story.
On the 20th, Carson Pickett (25), an active member of the Orlando Pride in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), had a special meeting with Teed.
Pickett and Teed had first met after a match against Portland Thorns FC in April. Pickett, like Teed, was born without a left hand. Despite her physical condition, her unwavering passion for soccer drove her to overcome the challenges. She began her professional soccer career in 2010 and has since risen to prominence, even earning the title of Gatorade’s Female Soccer Player of the Year in 2012. Pickett, who had triumphed over her disability, met Teed once more during a game against her rival team, Portland Thorns FC. Observing the constant smile on Teed’s face and recognizing their shared condition, she approached him and expressed her kinship, remarking, “I see we have the same arm.” She knelt beside Teed and displayed her own arms, as Teed’s father, Myles Teed, recounted to Fox News at the time. This marked a moment where an unbreakable bond formed between the two, despite their age difference. Pickett expressed her hope that Teed, like her, would have the confidence to believe he can accomplish anything.
These two individuals, who had forged such a special connection, crossed paths once again at the stadium last week. They showcased their enduring friendship by clasping their left arms together, with Teed’s angelic smile radiating from the stands. Pickett shared the ethos she grew up with, emphasizing that the words ‘no’ and ‘I can’t’ were deemed taboo in her household, akin to swearing. She believed it was this environment that empowered her to challenge herself relentlessly without giving up. Meeting Teed was a “privilege and an honor,” she added, expressing her hope that she could make a positive impact on people’s lives through her connection with him.
