Hailey Okula, nurse influencer, dies from childbirth complications following infertility struggles
Hailey Okula, a beloved nurse influencer, tragically passed away after giving birth to her first child, a son named Crew, as confirmed by her husband Matthew Okula to CBS Los Angeles. The couple had struggled with infertility for nearly two years before finally conceiving. Hailey, known as “Nurse Hailey” on social media, openly shared her journey with her followers, who totaled nearly 1 million across various platforms.
Matthew Okula shared the heartbreaking news on Hailey’s Instagram, expressing their immense joy at expecting Crew after a long and challenging IVF process. He described Hailey’s strength and courage in facing every hurdle with love and determination, despite the physical toll on her body. The couple’s dreams of becoming parents were shattered when Hailey suffered complications during childbirth.
Matthew recounted the emotional moment when he cut the umbilical cord after Crew’s birth via C-section, only to be informed minutes later that doctors were performing CPR on Hailey. He rushed to her side, expressing his love and pride before she tragically passed away from an amniotic fluid embolism, a rare and life-threatening condition.
In the wake of Hailey’s passing, Matthew is focusing on raising awareness about amniotic fluid embolism while caring for their newborn son. A GoFundMe page was created to support Crew and his single father, surpassing its goal of $250,000. The family plans to hold a vigil in Huntington Beach, California, to honor Hailey’s memory.
Amniotic fluid embolism is a rare complication that occurs when amniotic fluid enters the mother’s bloodstream during or after delivery. The exact cause is unknown, but it can trigger severe allergic reactions leading to heart and lung failure, as well as cardiac arrest. The condition affects 1 in every 40,000 deliveries in the United States, with survival rates ranging from 20 to 60%.
Despite advances in critical care and obstetric medicine, amniotic fluid embolism remains one of the most fatal birth complications worldwide. The Amniotic Fluid Embolism Foundation provides support and education for affected families, emphasizing the challenges of treating this condition.
The tragic loss of Hailey Okula serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of raising awareness about rare and life-threatening complications during childbirth. Her legacy lives on through the love and strength she embodied as a nurse, influencer, and now as a guardian angel to her beloved son Crew.
