'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQG/8QAIRAAAQMDBAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDBQAREgYTITEEIkL/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAE/8QAFxEBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQARgf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8A3OpYmHktORCNpfhql2SHHrbpsEZAKBNuTibjq1ThKWQGnnmS6j1WRkeR380pRUGUuB2//9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Fox reporter Hailey Winslow paid tribute to nursing influencer Hailey Okula, who died during childbirth.
During the latest segment of Fox 11 News at 10 p.m., Winslow offered her condolences to Hailey Okula's husband, Matthew, and their newborn child. The two had been struggling to conceive for two years, and moments after she gave birth, they shared a “quick little laugh” over how big their infant was. Within minutes, however, Okula went into cardiac arrest.
Hailey Winslow is a TV news reporter and weather anchor at FOX 11 Los Angeles. The award-winning journalist has been with the network for six years, prior to which she worked as an on-air host for Outback & Under in Australia. She also made an appearance in Will Smith's Academy Award-winning film, King Richard (2021).
Matthew Okula reflects on his late wife's legacy and says she wanted to be a mom "real bad"
Speaking on the Fox 11 Los Angeles Wednesday segment, Hailey Okula's husband said:
“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?’”
As reported by The New York Post, shortly after giving birth, Hailey Okula succumbed to an amniotic fluid embolism (AFE), which is a complication wherein “amniotic fluid, fetal cells, hair, or other debris” enters the “maternal pulmonary circulation, causing cardiovascular collapse," the National Library of Medicine states.
Matthew Okula, a firefighter, told the outlet
“She wanted to be a mom so incredibly bad.”
Talking about AFE that led to cardiac arrest, he further added,
“There’s no treatment. There’s no way of diagnosing it. It’s just so sad to think that other people have to go through what I’m going through right now.”
Matthew shared the news of Hailey Okula's demise on April 1 on Instagram, where she'd been vocal about her struggles with infertility.
"It is with the heaviest of hearts that I share the devastating news of the unexpected passing of my beautiful wife, Hailey Marie Okula, due to complications from childbirth," wrote Matthew, alongside a carousel of images from their pregnancy journey, including ultrasound scans, IVF treatments, and a photo of their son, Crew. His post continued, "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."
Hailey Okula first gained internet fame when she began sharing her life as an ER nurse. Back in 2019, she founded an RN New Grads program that helped nurses that recently graduated by offering them "educational resources, interview help," and more, the website states.
"She was gorgeous, smart, hardworking, passionate, trustworthy, and above all else, unbelievably loyal. For nearly 13 years, she stood by my side in the hardest of times, loving me endlessly, even when I felt undeserving of that love. She was my everything," added Matthew in his post. "Hailey’s strength was unparalleled. Words can’t describe how badly we wanted to be parents. After years of infertility struggles and a long, challenging IVF process, we were overjoyed to be expecting Crew," he wrote.
A fundraising initiative has since been launched on GoFundMe to support Matthew and baby Crew. It reads as follows:
"On what should have been the happiest day of their lives, Firefighter Matt Okula experienced the unimaginable. They faced every challenge together, determined to build the family they had dreamed of for so long. But in an instant, that dream was shattered," the page continued, adding that Matthew was now preparing to "navigate life as a single father while grieving the love of his life."
It goes on:
"Matt is not one to ask for help—but those who know him, especially his brothers and sisters in the fire service, know the kind of man he is. A man who has dedicated his life to protecting others. Now, it's our turn to protect him," the fundraiser post concluded.
At the time of writing, the GoFundMe page has raised about $331,752 out of the $350K goal.
Your perspective matters!
Start the conversation
