Hailey Okula, widely known as “Nurse Hailey” on social media, has sadly passed away shortly after giving birth to her long-awaited son. After openly sharing her emotional journey through infertility and IVF with hundreds of thousands of followers, her story has now taken a heartbreaking turn.
Hailey became a beloved figure online, not only for her nursing expertise but for her bravery in talking about something so many find hard to share: the struggle to conceive. She spent two years fighting through infertility and undergoing IVF, using her voice to bring comfort and support to others facing similar challenges. Her honesty and positivity made a deep impression, earning her a loyal following of more than 425,000 people on Instagram.
On March 29, Hailey gave birth to her baby boy, Crew, through a C-section. But soon after, she went into cardiac arrest and tragically passed away. Her husband, Matt Okula, a firefighter in Los Angeles, shared the news days later in a moving post online. In it, he described Hailey as his soulmate—beautiful, strong, loyal, and someone who stood by his side through everything. He said their dream of becoming parents had been long and difficult, but Hailey faced every challenge with strength and grace.
Their IVF journey had been filled with emotional highs and lows. Matt remembered one particular moment when he apologized for the stress the process was putting on her. Hailey looked him in the eyes and told him, “We are a team, and we’ll get through this together.” That was the kind of person she was—a true partner and a fierce supporter of the people she loved.
Back in September, the couple had announced the joyful news that they were expecting, after nearly two years of trying. Hailey had expressed her excitement online, saying that although the road had been tough, it was completely worth it. She was overjoyed to finally become a mom.
When their baby arrived, Hailey had only a brief moment with him. According to a reporter who spoke with the family, she joked about how big he was, even in those few precious seconds. Her love for him was already immense, and Matt said she would have been the most incredible mother. Her courage, heart, and spirit live on in their son and in everyone she inspired.
Hailey died from a rare and dangerous complication called amniotic fluid embolism (AFE), which happens when amniotic fluid enters the mother’s bloodstream during or after delivery. Though uncommon—affecting only about 1 in every 40,000 births in the U.S.—AFE is extremely serious and often fatal. Healthline notes that it’s the second leading cause of death during childbirth and the top cause of heart failure in new mothers. Sadly, most women who suffer from AFE do not survive.
Just minutes after Crew was born, Hailey told the nurses she wasn’t feeling right. Within moments, she went into cardiac arrest. Matt described the horrifying scene of being told doctors were doing CPR on his wife, and suddenly facing an unthinkable decision—whether to go with his wife to the ICU or stay with his newborn son. It was never a choice he imagined having to make. He remembered that she had wanted nothing more than to be a mother.
Matt also shared one bittersweet memory—that Hailey did get to see their baby for a split second before everything changed. It’s a moment he says he’ll hold onto forever.
The news of Hailey’s death devastated her followers. Many had followed every step of her fertility journey and were overjoyed at her pregnancy. After the tragedy, they flooded her social media pages with messages of love and support. Fans expressed how much her honesty had helped them, how she inspired others in the nursing world, and how her impact will never be forgotten.
“She made such a difference,” one person wrote. “We love you, Hailsyeahhh, and we’ll take care of baby Crew and Matt.”
“She was a light in the nursing community,” another said. “Her story has touched so many lives.”
A GoFundMe campaign has been started to support Matt as he navigates life as a new father without Hailey. The fundraiser describes how what should have been the happiest moment of their lives became one of heartbreak.
Though Hailey’s life was tragically cut short, her legacy will live on. She was a fierce advocate for women dealing with infertility, a beloved nurse, a devoted wife, and a new mother whose strength touched countless hearts. Her story will continue to inspire long after her passing.
