Hailey Okula’shusband is sharing vulnerable insight into an extremely difficult chapter.
Five months after the influencer died while giving birth to her and Matt Okula’s son Crew, the firefighter shared an update on where he is at in his grieving journey.
“We’re coming up on 5 months without Hailey,” Matt wrote in an Aug. 27 Instagram post, alongside a baby monitor video of him feeding the couple’s son. “I promised I’d be transparent and share the good and the bad, so here it is. Some nights I’m crying in the dark, wishing she could be here to hold him, to see him, to live the life she worked so hard for. It’s all so bittersweet. We miss and love you, Hailey.”
Hailey, 33, died from an amniotic fluid embolism, a rare cardiac complication that can occur during childbirth, just minutes after welcoming her son via c-section. The registered nurse’s tragic death came after the couple had been open about their IVF struggles for years.
“Words can’t describe how badly we wanted to be parents,” Matt, 34, said in an Instagram post in April shortly after his wife’s passing. “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.”
Hailey not only persevered for her own family, but also helped others achieve their goals along the way. Her Instagram account—@rnnewgrads—was dedicated to sharing tips and tricks to make a seamless transition into the nursing field.
“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,” Matt, who tied the knot with Hailey in 2022, wrote in an April 2 tribute. “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.”
For more on Hailey and Matt’s love story, keep reading…
A Tropical Vacation
Hailey Okula and Matt Okula took their first trip to Tahiti together, and Hailey shared a highlight reel of their vacation, writing in a 2022 Instagram post, “A mini video of our first island in the French Polynesia.”
Influencer Couple
Matt made a rare cameo in one of Hailey’s @rnnewgrads videos, where she showed off stylish scrubs.
IVF Success
In September 2024, Hailey shared the exciting news that she and Matt were expecting after two years of IVF. As she wrote on Instagram, “the journey has been hard, but so worth it.”
Pregnancy Journey
Hailey added in her September 2024 post, “I realize this is not always the outcome for people that have to go through IVF so I am so grateful and blessed that our first transfer stuck.”
Baby Shower
Matt and Hailey celebrated their baby boy, Crew, with their family at a February baby shower. Hailey wrote in a post to Instagram, “Couldn’t have asked for a more perfect woodlands themed baby shower for our lil guy!”
Saying Goodbye
In April 2025, Matt shared that Hailey had died just minutes after welcoming Crew via c-section.
“Words cannot convey the depth of the loss I feel,” he wrote in a post to Hailey’s nursing account. “Hailey was more than I could have ever dreamed of in a wife and partner.”
