Through internet platforms Hailey Okula enabled inspiration for nursing students and pregnant women for several years.
Known to her nearly half-a-million followers as “Nurse Hailey,” she carved a unique space online by sharing raw, heartfelt glimpses into her work as an ER nurse and her vulnerable journey through infertility.
Her life story transcended typical stethoscope usage to show her day-to-day clinical experiences and all their details.
Through her authentic approach Hailey constructed an internet platform based on strength which provided emotional support to those following her medical explanations and positive energy.
During 2019 Hailey established “RN New Grads” which provides educational support to new nursing professionals.
The platform became a central source for offering both support and direction to newcomers in healthcare who encountered this intense introductory period.
Her loyal fans maintained close watch on the documentation of her professional life while she showed courage by discussing both her infant fertility issues and the challenges with her husband becoming parents.
The couple managed various obstacles such as genetic factors that led them through specialised IVF treatment requirements.
Neutralizing the challenges finally brought forward the arrival of hope. The news which patient followers had been anticipating was finally revealed by Hailey in September 2024.
“Being able to say that we are pregnant is indescribable,” she posted on Instagram. Every aspect of our path to have a baby including my own infertility and my husband’s infertility and the innovative probe creation due to our shared genetic disease turned out to be challenging yet meaningful.
She openly displayed her enthusiasm about becoming pregnant through regular Instagram posts about her baby growth and showed continual admiration for her LAFD firefighter spouse Matthew Okula.
The delighted couple gave birth to their son Crew on March 31, 2025.
The happiest moment of their lives became tragic when everything turned dark.
The medical staff performed a cesarean section delivery on Hailey before she suffered a cardiac arrest.
Amniotic Fluid Embolism (AFE) proved to be the deadly birth complication which doctors diagnosed in Hailey as the fluid entered her bloodstream making her body react at an alarming level.
According to FOX 11 Los Angeles news Matthew shared the happy memory of the couple laughing while Crew was born. She even shed a tear. At that moment I left the room for medical staff to clean our baby. A minute later, the doctor tells me they’re doing CPR.”
“I had to decide: do I go to the ICU with my wife or stay with my newborn baby?” he said. “There’s no treatment. The medical community has no method to detect this condition.
The tragic d3ath has triggered an outpour of grief which has spread from the nursing community to social media networks where people send tribute after tribute to Hailey.
“She helped me and so many others through the trenches of nursing school,” one user commented. “I’m heartbroken.”
She provided nursing care to me at my most challenging hospital stay. The post contained heartfelt thanks about her characteristic gentleness along with fast responses to others’ needs.
Through Instagram Matthew expressed his deepest sorrow by saying that he cannot describe the extent of his grief because she was his entire world. Though her time was cut short, Hailey’s love for Crew was limitless.”
The young age of Hailey Okula reached 33 years. Matthew and his young son Crew are the surviving family members of Hailey Okula.
Featured Image Credit: (RNnewgrads / TikTok) (GoFundMe) (@nursehailey/Instagram)
