Nursing influencer Hailey Okula, 33, dies after childbirth as husband says she saw baby for split second

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Tragedy struck the social media world as Hailey Okula, known to 425K Instagram followers as 'Nurse Hailey', died on March 29 after a sudden cardiac arrest.

The beloved influencer, who recently welcomed a son with her husband Matt through IVF, tragically succumbed to a rare, often fatal amniotic fluid embolism just after giving birth.

In a heartfelt tribute shared on Instagram, Matt mourned the loss of his wife, revealing the devastating cause behind her untimely death. 

Hailey Okula's husband confirms death of his wife

In an emotional interview with Fox 11 Los Angeles, Matthew Okula, husband of the late Hailey Okula, shared the heartbreaking details of his wife’s sudden cardiac arrest following the birth of their son.

Hailey had undergone a cesarean section, and just minutes after their baby’s arrival, she suffered a fatal amniotic fluid embolism.

Matthew explained, “There’s no treatment. There’s no way of diagnosing it. It’s just so sad to think that other people have to go through what I’m going through right now.”

He then told KTTV, "She gave her life in the most noble way. She was able to see him for a split second, and I’m always going to remember that."

On April 1, Matthew took to Instagram to announce Hailey’s tragic death, a platform where she had previously shared her journey with infertility and pregnancy.

He wrote, "It is with the heaviest of hearts that I share the devastating news of the unexpected passing of my beautiful wife, Hailey Marie Okula, due to complications from childbirth."

The post was accompanied by a heartfelt montage featuring moments from their pregnancy journey, including ultrasound scans, IVF treatments, hospital visits, and a photo of their newborn son, Crew.

Matthew expressed the profound grief he felt, writing, "Words cannot convey the depth of the loss I feel. Hailey was more than I could have ever dreamed of in a wife and partner."

He continued, "She was gorgeous, smart, hardworking, passionate, trustworthy, and above all else, unbelievably loyal. For nearly 13 years, she stood by my side in the hardest of times, loving me endlessly, even when I felt undeserving of that love. She was my everything."

Reflecting on the struggles Hailey endured through the IVF process and years of infertility, he shared, “Hailey faced every hurdle with so much courage and love—even though her body went through so much, she never wavered. I will never forget the moment I broke down, apologizing for the toll the process would take on her. She held my face, looked into my eyes, and said, 'We are a team, and we’ll get through this together.' That was Hailey. A fighter. A teammate. A woman who would do anything for the people she loved."

Matthew also spoke about Hailey’s deep love for their newborn son, Crew, and her dedication to her career as a nurse. "She was so proud of it and was dedicated to creating something meaningful, not just for herself, but for the nursing community she loved so much. She dreamed of helping new nurses thrive while also being present for our sweet Crew, building a life and legacy she was so proud of."

Who was Hailey Okula?

Hailey Okula rose to prominence for her candid and heartfelt conversations about nursing, infertility, and IVF, per Newsweek.

In 2019, Hailey founded the RN New Grads program to support newly graduated nurses with vital resources like interview tips and educational content. Inspired by her own experience facing limited support as a new grad nurse, the program aims to fill that gap for others.

Hailey initially earned a bachelor's degree in digital media before shifting her focus to nursing. She completed her Associate of Science in Nursing in June 2019, started her first nursing job in January 2020, and went on to finish her Bachelor of Science in Nursing later that same year.

GoFundMe set up to help Hailey Okula's husband Matthew and son

As of April 4, $322K of the $350K goal has been raised through 6.8K donations on GoFundMe.

The GoFundMe page also shed light on the current struggles of newborn Crew and Hailey's husband, Matt: "Right now, Matt and Crew are still struggling to find a new direction in life. But we know that Hailey would tell us not to let the pain stop us—but to use it. To use this moment to make the world a little better. A little kinder."

The page further expressed gratitude, stating, "Thanks to your incredible support, Matt and Crew now have plenty of diapers, breast milk, and the basic necessities, Hailey made sure they would never go without."

Internet prays for peace for Okula family after Hailey's death

After news of nursing influencer Hailey Okula's death spread online, many Instagram users flocked to the comments section to share their tributes.

One user wrote, "This is so heartbreaking… almost beyond belief. Praying for peace for this beautiful little family."

A user said, "This is literally one of the most tragic stories I’ve ever heard. My heart breaks for this family sending so much love and prayer to this dad and baby❤️."

Another commented, "This woman single handedly helped so many of us through nursing school. As a nurse and family member of LA County Firemen, my heart hurts for this loss."

One wrote, "This is heartbreaking 💔 RIP."

Another person said, "The most heartbreaking thing I’ve ever witness I’m so incredibly sorry for this beautiful family. God bless you both so much."

Another added, "You did a great job telling this tough story with so much heart. Thinking of this beautiful family."

A user wrote, "This is so heartbreaking I just cannot even fathom. Little angel boy your mama was a hero in so many ways and she will be your guardian angel forever I’m so so so sorry you don’t get to feel her embrace physically in your life! 🥺💔🕊️"

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