Matt Okula Opens Up About Grief 5 Months After Wife Hailey’s Tragic Death
Hi there! I’m Quinn Parker—your favorite over-caffeinated aunt who’s seen it all, cried through it all, and is ready to spill the tea on the latest emotional rollercoaster. Buckle up, because this one’s a heartbreaker.
So here’s the deal: Matt Okula, the firefighter husband of late influencer and nurse Hailey Okula, has been sharing raw, emotional updates about life five months after her tragic death. And trust me, it’s not just sad—it’s the kind of real, unfiltered grief that makes you pause, hug your people a little tighter, and maybe cry into your coffee (no judgment here).
Let’s rewind a bit. Hailey, a beloved nurse and social media presence under the handle @rnnewgrads, died in April 2025—just minutes after giving birth to her and Matt’s son, Crew, via emergency C-section. The cause? A rare and unpredictable complication known as amniotic fluid embolism. If you’re not familiar, it’s a terrifying condition where amniotic fluid enters the mother’s bloodstream, causing cardiac arrest. It’s rare, fast, and devastating.
Matt, 34, and Hailey, 33, had been through years of IVF struggles, and their journey to parenthood was anything but easy. But they made it. They were finally expecting. And then, in a cruel twist of fate, Hailey was gone—leaving behind a newborn and a husband who’s now navigating fatherhood alone.
In a heartfelt Instagram post from August 27, Matt gave fans a glimpse into his daily reality. He shared a video of himself feeding Crew in the middle of the night, captioning it with a gut-wrenching reflection: “We’re coming up on 5 months without Hailey… 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.”
Let that sink in. This man is raising a baby without the love of his life, all while trying to keep her memory alive. He’s not hiding the pain—he’s sharing it, raw and real, because he promised he would.
Hailey wasn’t just a wife and soon-to-be mom—she was a mentor to new nurses, a fierce advocate for fertility awareness, and someone who inspired countless others through her journey. Her Instagram page was a hub of nursing tips, scrubs fashion, and heartfelt encouragement. And even after her passing, Matt has continued to post on her account, honoring her legacy and the life they built together.
Back in September 2024, Hailey had shared the joyful news of her pregnancy after two long years of IVF. She wrote, “The journey has been hard, but so worth it,” and added, “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.” That optimism, that gratitude—it’s heartbreaking to read now.
The couple had celebrated their baby boy with a sweet, woodlands-themed baby shower in February, surrounded by family. And just a few months later, Matt was writing, “Words cannot convey the depth of the loss I feel. Hailey was more than I could have ever dreamed of in a wife and partner.”
This isn’t just a story about loss—it’s a story about love, resilience, and the quiet strength it takes to keep going when your whole world changes overnight. And if you ask me? Matt deserves every bit of support out there. He’s not just raising a child—he’s raising a legacy.
Whew! That was a lot to process—but also, not enough. Because there’s still so much we don’t know, so much more to feel, and so many ways this story will continue to unfold.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News
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