“Though her time with us was tragically decrease temporary, Hailey’s love for Crew was limitless, prolonged sooner than he entered this world,” her husband, Matthew Okula, an LAFD firefighter, wrote in an emotional tribute, reflecting on his partner’s legacy alongside along with her program and her journey to show right into a mom.
Nursing influencer Hailey Okula — an ER nurse, typically referred to as “Nurse Hailey” on social media — has handed away after “points” all through childbirth following a years-long infertility journey.
Her husband, Matthew Okula — a Los Angeles Fireside Division firefighter — launched on Instagram on Tuesday that his partner died moments after they welcomed their first baby, a toddler boy they named Crew.
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“It’s with the heaviest of coronary coronary heart that I share the devastating info of the stunning passing of my beautiful partner, Hailey Marie Okula, on account of points from childbirth,” Matthew began. “Phrases can’t convey the depth of the loss I actually really feel. Hailey was higher than I may need ever dreamed of in a partner and affiliate. She was lovely, smart, hardworking, passionate, dependable, and above all else, unbelievably loyal. For virtually 13 years, she stood by my side inside the hardest of events, loving me endlessly, even after I felt undeserving of that love. She was my each little factor.”
“Hailey’s energy was unparalleled. Phrases can’t describe how badly we wanted to be mom and father. After years of infertility struggles and an prolonged, troublesome IVF course of, we have now been overjoyed to count on Crew,” he continued. “Hailey confronted every hurdle with loads braveness and love — although her physique went by means of loads, she certainly not wavered. I’ll at all times bear in mind the second I broke down, apologizing for the toll the tactic would deal with her. She held my face, appeared into my eyes, and talked about, ‘We’re a crew, and we’ll get by means of this collectively.’ That was Hailey. A fighter. A teammate. A woman who would do one thing for the oldsters she cherished.”
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“Though her time with us was tragically decrease temporary, Hailey’s love for Crew was limitless, prolonged sooner than he entered this world. She would have been primarily probably the most fantastic mom. Her spirit, braveness, and love will reside on in our son, and via everyone whose lives she touched,” Matthew added. “Hailey poured her soul into her occupation as a nurse and her passion for educating others by means of her enterprise, RN New Grads. She was so pleased with it and was dedicated to creating one factor important, not just for herself, nevertheless for the nursing neighborhood she cherished loads. She dreamed of serving to new nurses thrive whereas moreover being present for our sweet Crew, establishing a life and legacy she was so pleased with.”
As Matthew talked about, Hailey created RN New Grads, which helps nurses — who’ve simply currently graduated — kickstart their careers, sooner than this method turned “proper into a whole platform for all points nursing,” in response to her website. “We now provide tutorial property, interview help, and even promote cute nursing apparel and gear to showcase your satisfaction as a nurse,” the website reads.
Together with sharing content material materials related to this method, Hailey — who has over 425,000 followers on Instagram and over 200,000 on TikTok beneath the username “@rnnewgrads” — documented her years-long struggles with fertility, IVF course of, and her being pregnant journey after she launched she was anticipating in September 2024.
Matthew’s publish on Tuesday featured an emotional video montage of images and clips from their years collectively, along with their journey to get pregnant, footage from the hospital, and {a photograph} of kid Crew.
He continued his caption inside the suggestions a part of the publish, sharing information on the best way ahead for his late partner’s enterprise.
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“Regarding Hailey’s enterprise, RN New Grads, for now, we ask that no bodily merchandise be purchased as I have no idea all the logistical side of that part of the enterprise however,” Matthew wrote. “Digital merchandise can proceed to be purchased as common. If there are any disputes or questions, I ask in your endurance whereas I grieve and get higher — I promise I’ll work to resolve each little factor in time. Hailey refused to lease anyone to run her enterprise, partly on account of we’re so low price (lol), nevertheless further so on account of she was previous eager about her content material materials. She was truly specific, guaranteeing she actually most popular what was being posted and every helpful useful resource she created. There’s loads unposted supplies and so many merchandise she was so excited to share. I’m going to do each little factor I can to find out one of the best ways to proceed this enterprise in her honor.”
“Hailey always cherished the neighborhood she constructed, and it fulfilled such an infinite dream of hers to be a worthwhile, self-made entrepreneur,” he continued. “Please proceed to look at and share her content material materials to help protect her passion for educating nurses and healthcare workers alive. You all made such an unimaginable impression on her life, and for that, I’ll always be grateful.”
Matthew praised his partner’s work, saying that her “legacy goes previous the work she did or the aspirations she carried.”
“Her kindness and dedication to serving to others left a mark on everyone she met. Whereas we’re holding positive particulars private for now, we’re grateful for people who’ve reached out in love and help all through this unimaginable time,” he wrote. “I certainly not imagined myself asking for one thing, and Hailey wouldn’t have each, nevertheless for the sake of Crew, once you’ve obtained a way to contribute one thing the least bit to my Zelle account, it is going to indicate time away from work for me whereas Crew and I work to rebuild the broken life Hailey and I had put collectively.”
“Please proceed to hold our family, and significantly little Crew, in your prayers as we examine to carry on with out her. Her love and lightweight will with out finish keep in all of our hearts,” he concluded. “Rest in peace, my love. You may have been each little factor and additional. Always and with out finish. 💔.”
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Within the meantime, the LAFD shared a touching tribute on its official Instagram account, above.
“On March 29, 2025, in the midst of the provision of their baby, Mrs. Hailey Okula, partner of LAFD Engineer Matthew Okula, tragically handed away,” the LAFD captioend {a photograph} of Hailey and Matthew. “The Los Angeles Metropolis Fireside Division grieves the loss Mrs Okula and is grateful for the work of quite a few fireplace service members, along with groups like @housewivesoflafd working to help Engineer Okula and his new baby, Crew, all through this unimaginably troublesome time.”
Matthew moreover opened up regarding the tragedy whereas speaking with FOX 11.
According to the outlet, merely “two minutes” after Crew was born, she talked about, “I do not likely really feel good,” and went into cardiac arrest.
Whereas holding his toddler son and canine, Matthew — who wore a RN New Grads t-shirt and a hat that talked about “Dad” — suggested FOX 11, “She wanted to be mom so extraordinarily unhealthy.”
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Matthew — who was visibly emotional — recalled the horror he expert inside the hospital inside the minutes following Crew’s starting. He talked about the medical docs suggested him his partner suffered a “very, very unusual complication” generally known as amniotic fluid embolism. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is “a unusual and life-threatening complication that occurs when a pregnant girl will get amniotic fluid into their bloodstream merely sooner than, all through or immediately after childbirth.”
“She gave her life in primarily probably the most noble strategy. She was ready to see him for a reduce up second, and I’m always going to remember the fact that,” Matthew talked about, choked up.
According to FOX 11, Hailey was 33. The clip was shared on the LAFD Instagram.
A GoFundMe organize for Matthew and the family has virtually reached its function of $250,000 as of this posting, receiving over $238,000 in donations.
