After years of heartbreak and hope, a beloved nurse and online personality passed away just as her dream of becoming a mother came true.Hailey Marie Okula, a 33-year-old nurse and social media influencer, died unexpectedly from childbirth complications shortly after delivering her first child. The tragedy occurred on April 1, leaving her husband, Los Angeles firefighter Matt Okula, to mourn her while caring for their newborn son, Crew.
The nursing influencer had shared her emotional fertility journey with hundreds of thousands of followers, celebrating her long-awaited pregnancy just months ago. On the day of her delivery, her dream of becoming a mother became real, but joy quickly turned into heartbreak.After giving birth, Hailey let out a quick laugh as she looked at their newborn and joked about how big he was. But in a chilling turn, she suddenly told her husband, “I don’t feel good.” Those were her final words.Moments later, the doctors stepped in. “A minute later, the doctor lets me know that they’re doing CPR on her. I’m making the decision, ‘Am I going to the ICU to be with my wife or am I staying with my newborn little baby?'” he shared in an emotional interview.
Sadly, Hailey died shortly after from cardiac arrest, caused by amniotic fluid embolism. The condition is a rare but catastrophic complication of childbirth. It occurs when amniotic fluid or fetal material enters the mother’s bloodstream, triggering a sudden and often fatal cardiovascular collapse.Hailey and Matt had been together for nearly 13 years and had struggled for two years with infertility before turning to IVF. Their son, Crew, was the child they had long dreamed of. Hailey documented every step of the pregnancy on her social media, where she also ran RN New Grads, a business she created to support and guide new nurses.
In his tribute on Instagram, Matt called her “gorgeous, smart, hardworking, passionate, trustworthy, and above all else, unbelievably loyal.” He described how deeply they had wanted to be parents and how Hailey had faced each challenge with courage.He shared a moment during the IVF process when he broke down, worried about the toll it was taking on her. However, she held his face, looked into his eyes, and said, “We are a team, and we’ll get through this together.”Though she only held her son briefly, Matt said Hailey’s love for Crew had existed long before he was born. He wrote that her spirit and strength will live on through their child and in the lives she touched, just like the spirit of this North Carolina mom, who died during Hurricane Helene, lives on.
In the wake of Hailey’s passing, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to help Matt and Crew through this devastating time. The fundraiser aims to ease financial burdens as Matt takes time off work to grieve and bond with his newborn.It will also help cover funeral and memorial costs, everyday household expenses, and future childcare needs. The campaign emphasizes that this isn’t about charity but about community—honoring a fallen firefighter’s family with support and solidarity. “As firefighters, we never leave a brother behind,” the post explains. As of this writing, over $300,000 has been raised.Hailey poured her heart into her career and her mission to help others, and her legacy will continue through the community she built. Our sincere condolences go out to Matt and his family during this difficult time.
Unfortunately, another influencer died just a few weeks ago. As reported previously, Joshua “Josh” Jeremiah Blackledge, a 16-year-old TikTok personality from Newport, died unexpectedly at his home on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, according to Noe-Brooks Funeral Home in Morehead City.A junior at West Carteret High School, Blackledge competed in wrestling and track and was known for his lively, outgoing nature. He loved being outdoors, especially fishing and boating, and had a passion for cars. At home, he often helped his mother with gardening and cooking.
His obituary describes him as someone who “will be remembered by those who knew him for his enthusiasm and love for life.” A celebration of life is scheduled for Sunday, March 23, at 2:00 p.m. at Camp Albemarle in Newport.He is survived by his parents, Jonathan and Jackie Blackledge, and his younger brother, Josiah. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Nancy and Felizardo Rebala, and paternal grandparents, D. Eddy and Margaret Ann Blackledge.