A Beloved Nurse, Influencer, and Dreamer
Hailey Marie Okula—known affectionately as “Nurse Hailey”—was a 33-year-old ER nurse, social media educator, and founder of the RN New Grads platform, where she mentored newly graduated nurses via Instagram and TikTok. Her content was rooted in compassion and practical wisdom, and she amassed hundreds of thousands of followers who not only learned from her but cheered her on through life’s highs and lows.
Beyond her online presence, Hailey Okula and her husband, Matthew (a Los Angeles firefighter), shared a deeply personal journey toward becoming parents. After nearly two years of heartache navigating infertility and IVF, the couple welcomed the news that Hailey was expecting on September 17, 2024—a moment she described as “indescribable.”
Her audience watched as Hailey Okula faced every obstacle—medical, emotional, financial—with unwavering courage and partnership. She documented the ups and downs with vulnerability, turning every ultrasound, hospital visit, and update into a shared, hopeful milestone.
A Joyful Arrival—and a Devastating Loss
On March 31, 2025, after a lengthy and challenging labor, Hailey Okula delivered her son, Crew, via cesarean section at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. The baby arrived healthy, weighing over nine pounds—a moment of ultimate victory in their long journey to parenthood.
In what should have been a moment filled with pure joy, tragedy struck almost instantly. A few minutes after Crew’s birth, Hailey Okula went into cardiac arrest. Doctors attempted CPR and rushed her to the ICU, but she suddenly and fatally suffered an amniotic fluid embolism (AFE)—a rare and devastating childbirth complication where amniotic fluid or debris enters the mother’s bloodstream and triggers cardiovascular collapse.
Matthew recalls their final moments together: first a shared, sweet laugh about their newborn’s personality, then a life-shattering choice—stay with his wife or go to the ICU. He opted to stay behind with baby Crew as doctors fought for Hailey Okula life.
Amniotic Fluid Embolism—Rare, Cruel, Unpredictable
Amniotic fluid embolism is one of the most feared and least predictable complications in obstetrics. While extremely rare—estimated at roughly 1 in 40,000 to 6 in 100,000 births—it accounts for a significant fraction of maternal deaths during childbirth.
AFE often occurs without warning. Symptoms—like sudden breathlessness, plummeting blood pressure, rapid heart rate, bleeding, and mental confusion—escalate in a matter of seconds, leaving no time for diagnosis or effective treatment. Despite Hailey Okula being a highly trained ER nurse, this condition struck with brutal swiftness, underscoring how little control even the most prepared parents can have in such moments.
From Pain to Purpose: A Legacy of Awareness and Support
In the wake of her death, Matthew Okula used his grief to fuel a mission: raising awareness about AFE and honoring Hailey Okula legacy through action.
He publicly shared the news on her Instagram, writing of the “devastating news of the unexpected passing of my beautiful wife, Hailey Marie Okula, due to complications from childbirth.” His words echoed the deep love, admiration, and lifelong bond they shared.
In the days that followed, their baby son, Crew, became a living tribute to Hailey Okula spirit. The nursing and firefighting communities—and beyond—rallied around Matthew and Crew. A GoFundMe campaign launched to support them raised over $250,000 by early April and continued climbing to $435,000 in the months after.
Matthew has committed to telling Crew, when he’s older, about the incredible woman who loved him before he was born. He’s also transformed his grief into purpose, spreading awareness about AFE and Hailey Okula work mentoring new nurses through RN New Grads.
Why This Story Resonated—And Why It Matters
Hailey Okula death resonated deeply—not just because she was an influencer, but because she was endlessly relatable: a compassionate nurse, hopeful mother, and resilient partner. Her openness about infertility, IVF, and pregnancy transformed her journey into a communal experience—one filled with hopes, fears, and shared dreams.
Her abrupt and tragic passing reminded the world: childbirth, even in top-tier medical settings, can turn tragic in an instant. Conditions like AFE are rare but deadly—and awareness is the first step toward prevention.
Since her passing, conversations in obstetric care, among birthing professionals, and within online communities have become more informed. There’s a growing push for greater recognition of AFE symptoms, faster response protocols, and emotional preparedness among expecting families.
Hailey Okula offline and online communities continue to remember her as someone who gave fearlessly—now her influence extends to saving lives through education and empathy.
Closing Thoughts
“What Happened to Hailey Okula?” isn’t just a headline—it’s a story about love, loss, and legacy. It’s the story of a couple who fought to become parents, of a woman whose passion inspired countless nurses, and of an unpredictable medical tragedy that devastated a community in seconds.
But Hailey’s story didn’t end with her death. Through her husband’s love, Crew’s life, and her community’s outpouring, Hailey Okula’s voice lives on—calling for awareness, compassion, and preparedness. In that, her legacy is unmistakably alive.
