For nine months, Haley O’Cula’s Instagram followers saw the balance between her job demands and the happiness of her husband’s first child preparation. Now that same community is coming together to support her husband and their born son in the aftermath of her death.
Okula, an ER nurse known on Instagram as nurse Haley, passed away from birth complications shortly after welcoming her son’s crew, according to one update shared by her husband, Matthew Okula.
A post by Matthew O’Cula featured a video collage of their relationship and pregnancy journey.
“It is with my most heavy heart that I share the devastating news of the unexpected passing of my beautiful wife, Hailey Marie Okula,” the post reads. “I can’t convey the depth of the loss I feel. Haley was more than I ever dreamed of for my wife and partner. She was gorgeous, clever, hardworking, passionate, reliable and incredibly loyal.
In 2019, Haley Okra founded RN New Grade to support new graduate nurses, finding jobs and providing information on launches for nursing careers. Her RN New Grads Instagram account shared vulnerable content as she opened up about her pregnancy journey and the challenges she and her husband faced with infertility and IVF. She has grown her Instagram community to over 400,000 followers.
“Words can’t describe what we can say we’re pregnant,” she wrote in her September 2024 pregnancy announcement. “From my infertility issues to my husband’s infertility issues, we both have the same genetic disorder, lots of money for medicine, lots of money, so we have to create a special investigation. The journey is difficult, but it’s worth it.”
In a post that announced her death, Matthew O’Culla reflected Hailey’s strength throughout her journey to parents.
“The words cannot explain what we wanted to be parents,” he wrote. After years of infertility struggles and a long and challenging IVF process, we were overjoyed in anticipation of our crew. Haley faced every hurdle with so much courage and love. I will never forget the moment I broke down. The process apologised for the sacrifices that she had on her. She grabbed my face, looked into my eyes and said, “We’re a team, and we’ll get through this together.” It was Haley. Fighter plane. Teammate. A woman who does anything for the people she loved. ”
The Los Angeles Fire Department, where Matthew Okra works as an engineer, said Haley Okra was “grief over the loss of Mrs. Okra.” He also pointed out his followers on his “Housewives of LAFD” Instagram account. This hosts fundraisers for widows and new babies.
Many of Hailey O’Cula’s followers responded to the news that she passed away from a message of sincere support and an anecdote about how she touched their lives.
“She was my nurse in one of my toughest hospitalizations,” one user wrote. “I will never forget her kindness and quick help.”
“I am truly shocked and heartbroken by all of your family. There are no words,” wrote one commenter. “In this nursing community, Haley. She and I interacted with each other while pregnant. It’s devastated to hear this news.”
“I can’t believe this! She was so excited to be a new mom,” another commented. “She responded to my comments and I’d like to thank you when she said she was the best content producer for her ER skit.
