Hailey Okula dies during childbirth after 2-year struggle to get pregnant
Millions of people are familiar with Hailey Okula as Nurse Hailey, who won hearts on social media with her open and motivational account of her pregnancy and infertility experience.
The beloved nursing influencer tragically passed away shortly after giving birth to her precious child, leaving her family, friends, and countless followers heartbroken. She succumbed to cardiac arrest, a devastating loss that has left an irreplaceable void.
Infertility can be an incredibly difficult topic to discuss, often accompanied by feelings of shame or guilt. Hailey Okula, having endured a deeply personal, two-year struggle with infertility and the emotional turmoil of IVF, was well aware of these challenges. Her openness about her journey resonated with many, breaking down barriers and encouraging others to share their own stories with a sense of empowerment.
Hailey Okula, a nursing influencer with more than 425,000 followers on Instagram, bravely shared her deeply personal two-year battle with infertility and the emotional toll of IVF. Tragically, she passed away on March 29, shortly after giving birth to her long-awaited child, leaving behind a heartbroken family and a devastated community of followers who had followed her journey.
On April 1, Hailey’s husband, Matthew Okula, shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram. His message was a poignant tribute to his wife:
“I am deeply saddened to inform you of the untimely death of my beloved wife, Hailey Marie Okula, who faced complications during childbirth. The pain of this loss is indescribable. I could never have imagined a better wife and partner than Hailey. She was beautiful, intelligent, hardworking, passionate, dependable, and, above all, incredibly loyal.”
Matthew reflected on Hailey’s strength and resilience, particularly throughout their challenging fertility journey:
“She stood by me through my darkest moments for nearly 13 years, offering endless love even when I didn’t feel worthy of it. She was everything to me. The difficult IVF journey was nothing compared to her unwavering determination.”
He also spoke about the couple’s shared emotional journey, including their IVF struggles:
“Hailey’s strength was unmatched. Words can’t capture how much we yearned to have children. After years of infertility and the intense IVF process, we were overjoyed to be expecting Crew. Despite the immense toll on her body, Hailey never wavered in her love or bravery. She faced every obstacle with unwavering courage.”
Hailey’s legacy will live on in the love she shared with her family and the strength she inspired in others facing similar challenges.
Matthew Okula recalled a particularly emotional moment that captured Hailey’s unwavering strength and support:
“I’ll always remember the day I broke down in tears, expressing my regret for the toll the procedure was taking on her. She gently held my face, looked me in the eyes, and said, ‘We are a team, and we’ll get through this together.’ Hailey was that person—a warrior, a partner, a woman willing to sacrifice everything for the people she loved.”
After nearly two years of struggling with infertility, Hailey joyfully shared in September that she and her husband, Matt Okula, a firefighter with the Los Angeles Fire Department, were finally expecting a child. The announcement was met with an outpouring of joy and relief from her followers.
Hailey expressed her overwhelming happiness on Instagram, sharing her excitement with the world on September 16: “Without going too much into detail about my journey, the journey has been hard, but so worth it,” she wrote. “The moment was indescribable.”
The couple’s son, Crew, was born via cesarean section on March 29, according to KTTV. Hailey Winslow, a reporter, shared a touching detail from their brief but memorable encounter. Hailey, in a moment of lightheartedness, joked about how “big” her son was after taking one glance at him—a small but sweet reflection of the joy she had been waiting for.
Tragically, Hailey would never have the chance to watch her son grow up, but her legacy of love, resilience, and strength continues to inspire all who followed her journey.
Matthew Okula spoke with deep emotion about Hailey’s boundless love for their son, Crew, despite the tragically short time she had with him:
“Even though her time with us was heartbreakingly brief, Hailey loved Crew unconditionally before he was even born. She would have been the most incredible mother. Our child, and everyone she touched, will carry her strength, love, and energy forward.”
In an interview with KTTV’s Hailey Winslow, Matt shared the devastating news of his wife’s cause of death: Hailey passed away from amniotic fluid embolism (AFE), a rare and often fatal condition.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, AFE occurs when amniotic fluid enters the bloodstream of a pregnant woman, typically during or shortly after childbirth. Although incredibly rare, affecting about 1 in 40,000 deliveries (roughly 0.0025% of births), AFE is the second leading cause of maternal death in the U.S. and the primary cause of postpartum heart attacks. Sadly, over 60% of women diagnosed with AFE do not survive, as noted by the Mayo Clinic.
Hailey’s symptoms began just moments after giving birth. She informed the nurses that she wasn’t feeling well, just two minutes before going into cardiac arrest. Despite the efforts to save her, Hailey’s life was tragically cut short, but the love she gave will continue to resonate through the lives of those who knew her.
Matt Okula described the heart-wrenching moment when the doctor entered the room to inform him that they were performing CPR on Hailey: “A minute later, the doctor comes in and lets me know that they’re doing CPR on her,” Matt said. Faced with an unimaginable decision, he was forced to choose: “Am I staying with my newborn baby, or am I going to the intensive care unit with my wife?”
“Not a decision we thought I’d be making,” Matt recalled, adding that Hailey had wanted children “so incredibly bad.”
Matt also shared a deeply emotional moment from earlier that year when he was on the front lines of the Palisades Fire. He recalled that, for “a split second,” Hailey was able to catch a glimpse of their newborn son, a moment he will “always remember” and cherish forever.
The devastating news of Hailey’s passing left her fans shattered. With over 200,000 followers on TikTok and hundreds of thousands on Instagram, Hailey’s candidness about her infertility journey had touched many lives. Fans flooded social media with tributes, expressing their grief and admiration for Hailey’s unwavering strength. One follower wrote, “I’m devastated. Sending you and your family all the love.” Others described Hailey as an “amazing inspiration” and a source of strength for those struggling with infertility.
“We’re all completely broken by this. Hailey’s influence on so many of our lives is undeniable. We swear to love Matt and baby Crew, and we adore you so much, Hailsyeahhh. Until we cross paths again, crazy girl,” one follower wrote.
“I’m so very sorry,” many others echoed, sharing their condolences. “Hailey was a huge source of motivation for nurses. This news breaks my heart. May you and your family find strength during this difficult time, and may she rest in peace.”
To support Matt and baby Crew as they navigate this unimaginable loss, a GoFundMe page has been set up. The page explains, “Firefighter Matt Okula had the unthinkable happen on what should have been the happiest day of their lives.”
Although Hailey’s journey was tragically cut short, her legacy as a nurse, a devoted mother, and an advocate for infertility awareness will continue to inspire millions.
