For nine months, Hailey Okula's Instagram followers had been privy to her delicate dance between the rigors of her job and the blissful anticipation of welcoming her and her husband's firstborn. Now, this very community has rallied around her husband and their newborn son, Crew, as they grapple with the sorrow of her untimely demise.
Hailey Okula, an Emergency Room nurse affectionately known as Nurse Hailey on Instagram, succumbed to childbirth complications shortly after Crew's arrival, as revealed in a heart-wrenching update shared by her husband, Matthew Okula, on Tuesday.
Matthew's post showcased a video montage chronicling their love story and pregnancy journey, including footage of Hailey during labor. "It is with an overwhelming sense of grief that I impart the heart-shattering news of my beloved wife, Hailey Marie Okula's, unexpected passing," the caption read. "Words falter in conveying the profound depth of my loss. Hailey exceeded every dream I had of a wife and partner. She was radiant, intelligent, diligent, fervent, reliable, and, above all, unfathomably devoted. For nearly a decade and a half, she stood steadfast by my side during our darkest hours, loving me unconditionally, even when I felt unworthy of such love. She was my universe."
In 2019, Hailey Okula founded RN New Grads, a platform dedicated to supporting newly minted nurses by offering guidance on job searches and navigating their nursing careers. Her RN New Grads Instagram account, where she candidly shared her pregnancy journey and the trials they faced with infertility and IVF, garnered a following of over 400,000 loyal members.
"Announcing our pregnancy is beyond words," she had penned in a September 2024 post. "From my infertility battles to my husband's, to the creation of a specialized probe due to our shared genetic condition, numerous medications, and a fortune spent, the journey has been arduous yet endlessly rewarding."
In the poignant post announcing her demise, Matthew Okula reflected on Hailey's indomitable spirit throughout their parental journey. "No words can encapsulate our longing to become parents," he wrote. "After years of infertility struggles and a grueling IVF journey, our joy knew no bounds when we learned we were expecting Crew. Hailey confronted every obstacle with immense courage and love. Despite the toll on her body, she never faltered. I'll forever cherish the moment I broke down, apologizing for the burden the process placed on her. She held my face, gazed into my eyes, and said, 'We're a team, and we'll conquer this together.' That was Hailey—a warrior, a teammate, a woman who would sacrifice anything for those she cherished."
The Los Angeles Fire Department, where Matthew Okula serves as an engineer, posted about Hailey's passing, expressing their condolences. They directed followers to the "Housewives of LAFD" Instagram account, which had organized a fundraiser for the bereaved father and his newborn.
Numerous of Hailey Okula's followers responded to the tragic news with heartfelt messages of support and recollections of how she had touched their lives. "She was my nurse during one of my most challenging hospital stays," one user reminisced. "I'll forever hold dear her kindness and prompt assistance." Another commented, "I'm utterly stunned and heartbroken for your entire family. There simply aren't words. Hailey was a beacon in the nursing community. We exchanged messages throughout our pregnancies, and I'm devastated by this news." A third added, "I can't believe this! She was over the moon about becoming a mom. She even responded to my comment, thanking me for praising her ER skits. I will deeply miss her!"
