Hailey Okula was more than a nurse — she was a mentor, a fighter, and a woman whose deepest wish was to become a mother. Her life was marked by compassion and determination, both in her career and in her personal journey. But on the day she finally reached the moment she had dreamed of for years — the day she gave birth to her son — tragedy struck with devastating force.
Hailey and her husband, Matthew, had known each other since college. She had been a gifted gymnast; he was training as an EMT. Their bond grew stronger over the years, and after marrying, they dreamed of starting a family. Yet infertility cast a shadow over their plans. They endured countless treatments, invasive procedures, and heartbreak through repeated failures. The road was long and painful, but Hailey’s resilience never faltered. During one of Matthew’s lowest moments, when he broke down apologizing for the toll it was taking on her body, she cupped his face and told him softly, “We are a team, and we’ll get through this together.” That promise carried them forward.
Years later, their perseverance was rewarded with the news they had prayed for — Hailey was pregnant. Their child, whom they would name Crew, became a symbol of everything they had endured, a beacon of hope after years of struggle.
Even as she prepared for motherhood, Hailey poured herself into her calling. Nursing wasn’t just her career — it was her purpose. Through her platform RN New Grads, she mentored thousands of young nurses around the world, blending humor and honesty with invaluable guidance. Her following grew close to one million, and she became a source of inspiration for countless healthcare workers. She dreamed of balancing her new role as a mother with her work of teaching and uplifting others.
On March 29, 2025, the long-awaited day arrived. Hailey delivered Crew via cesarean section, with Matthew at her side. The moment was pure joy. Matthew cut the umbilical cord, and Hailey, exhausted but radiant, joked about their baby’s size. For a fleeting moment, everything they had fought for felt complete.
But then, in an instant, everything changed. Moments after the delivery, Hailey whispered, “I don’t feel good.” Within seconds, she went into cardiac arrest. Matthew, torn between staying with his newborn and rushing back to his wife, faced a decision no husband should ever have to make. He chose to be by her side, kissing her forehead and telling her how proud he was, making sure she knew how deeply she was loved. It would be the last time he saw her alive.
Doctors explained that Hailey had suffered an amniotic fluid embolism, a rare and unpredictable condition where amniotic fluid enters the mother’s bloodstream, triggering a catastrophic reaction. It is sudden, almost impossible to predict, and often fatal. In Hailey’s case, it struck within minutes of her C-section, leaving no time to save her.
The loss was staggering. Matthew, now left to raise their son alone, shared his grief with the world. “It is with the heaviest of heart that I share the devastating news of the unexpected passing of my beautiful wife,” he wrote. “She was my everything. She wanted to be a mom so badly. She gave her life in the most noble way — she got to see our son, even for just a second.”
The tragedy rippled far beyond their family. Colleagues, friends, and strangers who had followed Hailey’s work as a nurse educator mourned her. The Los Angeles Fire Department, where Matthew serves, released a statement honoring her and thanking the community for rallying around him and baby Crew. Tributes poured in from across the world, many remembering her as not just a nurse, but as a guide, a motivator, and a source of strength.
Though her life ended on the very day she became a mother, Hailey’s legacy continues through her son, through Matthew, and through the countless nurses she inspired. Matthew has vowed to honor her by raising Crew in the light of her spirit — a spirit defined by courage, love, and the determination to lift others even in her hardest battles.
Hailey’s story is a reminder of both the fragility of life and the extraordinary impact one person can leave behind. In her final moments, she embodied the very qualities she lived by: devotion, selflessness, and love that endures beyond loss.