TikToker Hailey Okula dies giving birth after she and firefighter husband struggled to get pregnant for over two years
A NURSE and influencer who publicized her years-long infertility struggles and pregnancy journey has died after giving birth to her first child.
Hailey Okula, better known as Nurse Hailey on social media, died due to complications from childbirth, her husband confirmed on Wednesday.
Matthew Okula, Hailey’s husband, shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram.
“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,” he posted.
“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. She was gorgeous, smart, hardworking, passionate, trustworthy, and above all else, unbelievably loyal.”
Matthew, who has been with Hailey for 13 years, called her his “everything” and detailed the couple’s struggles with infertility, an issue Hailey had previously been vocal about to her 212,000 TikTok followers.
“After years of infertility struggles and a long, challenging IVF process, we were overjoyed to be expecting Crew. Hailey faced every hurdle with so much courage and love—even though her body went through so much, she never wavered.”
Matthew recalled a time he broke down and apologized to his wife for everything she was going through.
“She held my face, looked into my eyes, and said, ‘We are a team, and we’ll get through this together.'”
He described Okula as someone who would “do anything for the people she loved.”
Matthew said his wife’s love for their newborn son Crew was “limitless” despite their short time together.
“Her spirit, courage, and love will live on in our son, and through everyone whose lives she touched.”
Matthew praised Hailey’s dedication to teaching aspiring nurses about the practice on her Instagram and TikTok accounts.
He said that she loved her nursing community and was so proud of the meaningful community and content she made.
“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.”
Along with the lengthy caption, Matthew shared a montage video of Hailey’s IVF and fertility journey.
The caption accompanied a heartfelt video montage showing their IVF and pregnancy journey.
The tribute included wedding photos and clips of the couple finding out she’s pregnant and getting their first sonograms.
Matthew Okula's full tribute
It is with the heaviest of heart that I share the devastating news of the unexpected passing of my beautiful wife, Hailey Marie Okula, due to complications from childbirth. 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. 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.
Hailey’s strength was unparalleled. Words can’t describe how badly we wanted to be parents. After years of infertility struggles and a long, challenging IVF process, we were overjoyed to be expecting Crew. 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.
Though her time with us was tragically cut short, Hailey’s love for Crew was limitless, long before he entered this world. She would have been the most amazing mom. Her spirit, courage, and love will live on in our son, and through everyone whose lives she touched.
Hailey poured her soul into her career as a nurse and her passion for teaching others through her business, RN New Grads. 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.
“Rest in peace my beautiful, loving wife, Hailey Marie Okula. ‘Nurse Hailey,'” Matthew wrote.
A GoFundMe has been created to help support Matthew, who is a firefighter with the Los Angeles Fire Department and battled the city’s wildfires in January, and his newborn son.
“Matt is not one to ask for help—but those who know him, especially his brothers and sisters in the fire service, know the kind of man he is,” the fundraiser’s description reads.
“A man who has dedicated his life to protecting others. Now, it’s our turn to protect him.”
The fundraiser has a goal of $250,000 and so far has $238,424 raised.