Matt Okula is keeping his wife's memory alive.
Less than one month after nursing influencer Hailey Okula, known as @rnnewgrads, died at 33 following the birth of their son Crew, her husband shared a glimpse into sweet moments together in a heartbreaking reflection on Easter.
"For those of you who knew Hailey, you know the incredible joy she brought to everything she touched," Matt wrote on Instagram April 20. "For those who didn't know her personally, Hailey had an endless love for the beach and traveling (though she absolutely HATED cold water)."
Alongside a slideshow of photos together at different beaches, he added, "These are some of my favorite memories we shared together, exploring sandy shores near and far, going on adventures that always felt like magic."
Matt emphasized that the nursing content creator's "light and love made every moment unforgettable."
The firefighter—who was a first responder amid the devastating Los Angeles wildfires—also shared a message with his late wife.
"It's impossible not to feel the weight of you not being here with us," he began. "Just when I think the pain couldn't be deeper, it is. I wish you were here to create the family memories we dreamed about together. I miss you more than words can capture and can't wait for the day I get to see you again."
"Thank you for being my everything," he continued. "You always have been and always will be my beautiful angel. I love you forever, Hailey."
Following the birth of Crew—which came after years of undergoing in-vitro fertilization treatment—Hailey had unexpectedly died due to complications from childbirth, Matt confirmed.
"Words cannot convey the depth of the loss I feel," he wrote on Instagram April 1. "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."
He also shared more insight into their fertility journey, emphasizing "how badly" they wanted to be parents.
"After years of infertility struggles and a long, challenging IVF process, we were overjoyed to be expecting Crew," he reflected. "Hailey faced every hurdle with so much courage and love—even though her body went through so much, she never wavered."
"I will never forget the moment I broke down, apologizing for the toll the process would take on her," he recalled. "She held my face, looked into my eyes, and said, 'We are a team, and we'll get through this together.' That was Hailey. A fighter. A teammate. A woman who would do anything for the people she loved."
For a look back at Matt and Hailey's life together, 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.”