Husband speaks out after wife dies from serious complication in childbirth
Matthew Okula, 34, told "Good Morning America" that his late wife Hailey Marie Okula, who was an emergency room nurse and a popular influencer behind the "RN New Grads" online platform for nurses, died on March 29 at the age of 33.
Okula, a firefighter for the Los Angeles Fire Department, said his wife's death occurred after about three days of laboring and after she underwent a Cesarean section at Ocean Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.
The couple's son, named Crew, was born healthy, weighing just over 9 pounds, Okula said.
While he was spending time at their newborn's side after his birth, Okula said he learned his "very healthy" wife's condition had deteriorated.
"A minute later, the doctor comes in briefly, tells me her oxygen levels has dropped. They're working on getting them up," he recalled. "I'm a fireman. I've been a medic for over 10 years and didn't really worry about it because she's in the hospital, very healthy."
Mom suffers near-fatal stroke just hours after giving birth
Okula said doctors performed CPR on his wife and rushed her to the intensive care unit, where he said she was told she died of an amniotic fluid embolism, a pregnancy complication that ultimately prevented her brain from receiving enough oxygen.
When reached for comment by "GMA," a spokesperson for Orange Coast Medical Center declined to comment specifically on Hailey Okula's death, citing privacy.
"While privacy restrictions prevent us from commenting in this instance, we are aware of the story and join in the public outpouring of condolences and support for the family," the spokesperson said in a statement.
Matthew Okula said he is "destroyed" by his wife's unexpected and sudden death, but he is sharing her story publicly and widely to spread the word about amniotic fluid embolism, a complication he said he didn't know about.
According to StatPearls, an online library published in the National Library of Medicine, an amniotic fluid embolism happens when the fluid surrounding the baby gets into the mother's bloodstream. This triggers a severe reaction in the mother's body that can cause blockages in the blood vessels, which can lead to the heart suddenly stopping, breathing problems, brain damage or kidney failure.
Symptoms of an amniotic fluid embolism include shortness of breath, a sudden drop in blood pressure, fluid in the lungs, an abnormal heart rate, bleeding from the uterus, C-section incision or an IV site, agitation, confusion or anxiety. The risk for an amniotic fluid embolism can also increase with labor induction or if a mother has a pre-existing cardiac disease or a cerebrovascular disorder.
Dad raises newborn daughter alone after mom dies due to pregnancy complications
According to StatPearls, amniotic fluid embolisms are estimated to affect 2.2 to 7.7 of 100,000 deliveries, contributing to about 7.5% of maternal deaths in the United States.
Okula said he plans on telling his son Crew what an "amazing" person his mother was and the "massive" impact she had on the world.
Hailey Okula's "RN New Grads" Instagram boasted nearly 500,000 followers -- and in an April 2 post about her death, over 10,000 followers left messages of condolences.
"I just hope that something can come from this," Okula said.
"I think many pregnant moms don't know about it," he added. "It's such a fatal thing that could happen to anyone."
Husband speaks out after wife dies from serious complication in childbirth originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
8 hours ago
Dietitian explains fibermaxxing trend: What it is and how to properly incorporate fiber in your diet
The latest dietary health trend sweeping social media, known as "fibermaxxing," has people pondering the age old question: Can you have too much of a good thing? Millions of videos on TikTok using the hashtag #fibermaxxing have flooded TikTok feeds with an overflow of information. So to help better explain what it actually means and how it works, "Good Morning America" spoke to registered dietitian Steph Grasso, who said it's a trend she can personally get behind. What is fibermaxxing? Grasso, who regularly informs her more than 2 million followers on TikTok and nearly 300,000 followers on Instagram about proper nutrition habits, recently tapped into the viral trend on Instagram, highlighting the potential issues people may face by increasing fiber too quickly and overwhelming the gut. "Fibermaxxing is slang for eating tons of fiber, either meeting or exceeding the daily recommendations," Grasso said. "Protein has always gotten the spotlight, but with colon cancer rates increasing, people are becoming more aware of their low fiber intake and trying to maximize it." Whenever she's posted about fiber, Grasso said her comment section seems to fill up with replies like, "Fiber doesn't agree with me" or "Fiber makes me bloat way too much." "And I think fiber gets that reputation," she said. "Last year, I claimed 2024 as the year of fiber and made my content mostly about it -- trying to influence people to increase their intake," she explained. "I highlighted, and still highlight, beans as a convenient and affordable way to get in fiber. I think the most common misconception is, 'Fiber causes gas and bloating, so I should avoid it.'" While she explained that fiber can indeed cause gas and bloating, that doesn't mean you should avoid it. "That's your body's way of telling you it's feeling way too overwhelmed, because it's never digested that much fiber before," she explained. "Sudden fiber increases, especially if fiber isn't usually part of your diet, can cause temporary gastrointestinal symptoms because your gut bacteria just isn't used to fermenting it." How to properly increase fiber intake "If you're trying to add more fiber to your diet, I recommend increasing it slowly and gradually," Grasso said. "If you never eat fiber, set a goal for 5 grams of fiber a day. Then in the second week, try 10 grams per day and increase by 5 grams each week as tolerated." She also noted that as people are increasing their fiber, they should also be "drinking plenty of water," because "fiber needs water to bulk and aid digestion." The U.S. Department of Agriculture Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest at least 25 grams of fiber per day for women under 50 and at least 31 grams daily for men under 50. Easy ingredients to add more fiber to your diet "Beans, beans, beans," Grasso said with gusto, discussing the best foods to add more fiber to your diet. "They are so convenient, affordable and versatile. One cup has about 6-8 grams of fiber." Whole grains are another high-fiber food group that Grasso suggests adding -- think "quinoa, oats and barley." "Or snacking on fruit and nuts can increase your fiber intake," she said. "And of course, making half your plate veggies during lunch and dinner will help meet your fiber goals." Health benefits of fiber While Grasso said she could pen an entire article solely dedicated to the studied health benefits of fiber, she summed it up simply. "[Soluble] fiber supports digestive health by feeding beneficial gut bacteria. It also binds to LDL, [or] "bad" cholesterol, in the digestive tract and helps remove it, lowering your cholesterol levels," Grasso explained. "Plus, it slows the absorption of glucose -- sugar -- helping stabilize blood sugar levels and reducing post-meal spikes." No one food group can be responsible for better or worse overall health -- they should be combined with a well-rounded diet and other healthy lifestyle habits like exercise, Grasso said -- and anyone looking to change their diet should first consult with a physician before making a major change like upping your fiber intake. ABC News medical correspondent Dr. Darien Sutton recently weighed in on fibermaxxing for "GMA3." "This is a trend I can stick by," Sutton said. "The majority of us are talking about protein, but very few of us are talking about fiber. It's the one nutrient can extend your life. And 95% of Americans are not getting the recommended amount of fiber." To help people visualize how much fiber they should be getting, Sutton said the daily recommendation in terms of food is equivalent to about seven apples or 11 bananas. But he added, importantly, "this is not where you should get all of your fiber." Like Grasso, Sutton said to utilize beans and legumes by adding them to a salad, or try a half cup of nuts for about 8 grams of fiber. Two to three handfuls of vegetables is about 8 grams of fiber, he said. If you want to kick start the day with a lot of fiber, Sutton suggested adding chia seeds and fruits to morning oats for about 20 grams of fiber. "Fiber is so much more than helping us with digestion. That helps to regulate your sugar and protects you against diabetes, but it binds toxins and reduces inflammation, and that helps us to reduce our risk of colon cancer, and it helps us to get rid of cholesterol. There are so many benefits of fiber, and so few of us are getting it."
Business Insider
a day ago
- Business Insider
16 celebrities who have spoken about having Lyme disease
Justin Timberlake shared his diagnosis shortly after wrapping up his world tour. On Thursday, while wrapping up his world tour, the singer shared his diagnosis in an Instagram post. "Among other things, I've been battling some health issues, and was diagnosed with Lyme disease -— which I don't say so you feel bad for me —— but to shed some light on what I've been up against behind the scenes," he wrote. "If you've experienced this disease or know someone who has — then you're aware: living with this can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically." Timberlake was "shocked" at first, but this diagnosis helped explain some of the "crazy fatigue" and "nerve pain" he'd been feeling. Though he debated ending his tour early, he wrote, he's glad he chose to keep going. " … I was reluctant to talk about this because I was always raised to keep something like this to yourself," he continued. "But I am trying to be more transparent about my struggles so that they aren't misinterpreted.'" In 2020, Amy Schumer shared that she'd been diagnosed with Lyme disease. In September 2020, Schumer shared on Instagram that she has Lyme disease and "maybe had it for years." Seeing as this disease is the "great imitator" with a range of symptoms, it's possible she could've experienced Lyme symptoms for quite some time without realizing it. In an Instagram post that same year, the comedian said she was taking doxycycline, an oral antibiotic, to treat the condition, and she also asked others for advice. Justin Bieber has been open about his experiences with Lyme disease. In January 2020, the singer wrote on Instagram that it's been a "rough couple of years" battling the disease. Bieber explained that, for a long time, people speculated that he was "on meth," but failed to realize that he'd actually recently been diagnosed with Lyme disease. He wrote that he'd also been struggling with "a serious case of chronic mono which affected my skin, brain function, energy, and overall health." Avril Lavigne is now an advocate for those with the illness. Lavigne spoke about her struggle with Lyme disease in a June 2015 interview with "Good Morning America," revealing that she'd been bedridden in October 2014. She called that the "worst time" in her life after seeing specialists and doctors who misdiagnosed her with chronic fatigue syndrome and depression. In October 2018, the "Complicated" singer told Billboard she felt unwell during her 2014 tour and couldn't get out of bed as her symptoms progressively got worse. During one of her darkest days battling with side effects of the disease, Lavigne said she wrote her 2018 song "Head Above Water," telling Billboard, "I had accepted that I was dying ... And literally under my breath, I was like, 'God, help me keep my head above the water.'" She has also started the Avril Lavigne Foundation, which aims to bring awareness to those dealing with Lyme and other serious illnesses and disabilities. Ben Stiller said he had trouble getting an accurate diagnosis. In 2011, Stiller told The Hollywood Reporter about his Lyme disease, saying, "I got it in Nantucket, Massachusetts, a couple of years ago. My knee became inflamed and they couldn't figure out what it was, then they found out it was Lyme." "I'm symptom-free now, but Lyme doesn't ever leave your system. It's a really tough thing," he said. Shania Twain has said Lyme affected her career. Twain dominated the pop and country charts in the 1990s and early 2000s, but by 2004, she had issues with her vocal cords, which she attributed to contracting Lyme disease. In 2017, she told Canadian news outlet CBC that she was bitten by a tick when on tour in Norfolk, Virginia. She said she saw it fall off her, and she immediately began to see troubling Lyme disease symptoms pop up. "I was on tour, so I almost fell off the stage every night. I was very, very dizzy and didn't know what was going on. It's just one of those things you don't suspect," she added. It took Twain years to figure out that she had dysphonia, a neurological disorder of the vocal cords in which muscles can spasm and impact speech, which she attributes to the Lyme bacteria. She now warns others about the disease. Lyme "is very dangerous because you have a very short window to catch it and then treat it and then even when you treat it, you could still very well be left with effects, which is what happened to me," Twain told CBC. "It's a debilitating disease and extremely dangerous. You can't play around with it, so you've got to check yourself for ticks." Kelly Osbourne went undiagnosed for nearly a decade. In her 2017 book "There Is No F*cking Secret: Letters From a Badass Bitch," the former reality star shared she'd unknowingly been battling Lyme disease for years. She explained that her mom, Sharon, purchased her dad, Ozzy, a reindeer sanctuary for their home in England for his 56th birthday in 2004. She said shortly after she was bitten by a tick, which Ozzy burned off her. For years after, she experienced "traveling pain," ranging from stomach aches to a sore throat. She said it took quite some time to finally get a Lyme diagnosis. Osbourne wrote that she was initially afraid to speak publicly about Lyme disease because "it seems like the trendy disease to have right now, and I'm tired of seeing sad celebrities play the victim on the cover of weekly mags," but that she now acts as her own health advocate. Ally Hilfiger wrote about her experience with the disease in a memoir. In her book "Bite Me: How Lyme Disease Stole My Childhood, Made Me Crazy, and Almost Killed Me," Hilfiger chronicled her experience with the invisible illness and the all-too-visible symptoms that followed. In 2016, the designer told Health magazine, "I remember getting bit by a tick and my parents sent it off to the labs. And we got inconclusive tests back." For 10 years, she said, multiple doctors gave her a variety of diagnoses from fibromyalgia to rheumatoid arthritis. She told the magazine that finally receiving the correct diagnosis felt like she "won the lottery." The emotional struggles is just as hard as the physical ones, according to the fashion designer. "One of the biggest issues I think a lot of Lyme sufferers have is that some days you can have good days. And other days you can feel really feel horribly and not be able to get out of bed," she told Health. "And sometimes you start to doubt whether or not you're really feeling what your feeling, if that makes any sense. And you feel disbelieved." In 2014, Debbie Gibson shared she'd been privately dealing with the illness. After fans expressed their concern about her appearance in social-media photos, Gibson took to her blog in April 2014 to give an update on her health, sharing she'd begun experiencing Lyme symptoms in early 2013. She wrote that she first felt anxiety and sensitivity to certain foods, then began feeling unique pain and muscle fatigue she'd never had before. She added, "I got tested for everything under the sun, though it did not occur to me, or my West Coast doctors, to test for Lyme. It is typically an East Coast thing." Gibson began losing weight and experiencing symptoms of depression, adding, "I could barely walk. I started feeling numbness and tingling in my hands and feet, which is very disconcerting for a pianist and dancer, to say the least. Night sweats, chills, fever, nerve tremors, nightmares, and migraine headaches were at a fever pitch without a minute of relief." After a long journey to find the correct diagnosis, the "I Love You" singer was able to begin treatment. In recent years, she's spoken about learning to manage her symptoms. "I've learned how to overcome. I've never said I'm struggling with Lyme [disease], I say I'm overcoming Lyme," she told People in 2023. "So, I've really overcome a lot and I just remain diligent and consumed with my body and my mind and it's working." Alec Baldwin has spoken about experiencing Lyme symptoms. During a 2011 interview with The New York Times, the "Saturday Night Live" actor mentioned that he had chronic Lyme disease. Baldwin didn't mention his diagnosis again until 2017 when he spoke onstage at an event benefiting the Bay Area Lyme Foundation. According to People magazine, he told the crowd he'd been bitten by a tick 17 years prior and was bitten again a few years later. "I got the classic Lyme disease (symptoms) for each successive summer, for five years, every August, like [these] black lung, flu-like symptoms, sweating to death in my bed," he said. "The first time was the worst of all," he recalled. "And I really thought, 'This is it, I'm not going to live.' ... I was lying in bed saying, 'I'm going to die of Lyme disease,' in my bed.'" He said he and his wife, Hilaria, remain vigilant about checking their dogs and children for ticks. Jamie-Lynn Sigler said she was diagnosed with Lyme disease and multiple sclerosis within a short period. When Sigler was 19 years old and starring on HBO's hit "The Sopranos," she learned she had Lyme disease. Shortly after, in 2016, she told People magazine, "I was diagnosed with MS (multiple sclerosis) when I was 20 years old. It was a shock, it was surprising." "I had been diagnosed with Lyme disease the year before, so to get the diagnosis was confusing, and also strange because I didn't feel sick. I didn't feel that anything was wrong." She'd taken antibiotics, a standard course of treatment for early-stage Lyme, "and things had started to go away," she said. Daryl Hall has spoken about Lyme disease and tick bites. In 2005, the duo Hall and Oates canceled a tour, sharing that Hall had been diagnosed with Lyme disease. In 2011, Hall spoke about his experiences, explaining how he contracted the disease and his journey to health. "I got it the way everybody gets it," he said. "I've lived in the country for many, many years ... it's a hotbed of deer and other wildlife animals. I'd been bitten over the years so many times and I think it finally reached a critical mass and I crashed and burned about five years ago." He said he experienced a wide range of ailments, from allergies and fever-like symptoms to aches, pains, and tremors. After being tested, he learned he had "six or seven tick-borne diseases." Hall said he saw a Lyme literate doctor who helped treat him and advised individuals with constantly changing symptoms "to get tested for Lyme disease because the symptoms mimic so many other things." Thalía Mottola began feeling ill during pregnancy in 2007. Mottola spent most of the 1990s and early 2000s dominating the Latin music charts, but in 2007, at the end of her first pregnancy, the "No Me Acuerdo" singer began feeling unwell. By the time she gave birth, she was unknowingly dealing with a full-blown case of Lyme disease. In her 2011 memoir "Growing Stronger," she explained that doctors tried to convince her she was suffering from postpartum depression, writing, "I continued to feel like I had been run over by a truck that had dragged me for a thousand miles, along with a steamroller that had crushed every last bone in my body. I literally thought I was dying." When she found the energy to research online, she started seeing Lyme specialists, eventually undergoing two years of "heavy treatments." Kathleen Hanna dealt with Lyme disease symptoms for over a decade before being properly diagnosed. Hanna stepped away from her band, Le Tigre, in 2005, citing personal health issues as the reason for her hiatus. Years later, she attributed those issues to an undiagnosed case of Lyme disease. After multiple misdiagnoses — from multiple sclerosis to lupus and panic attacks — she saw a 2008 documentary called "Under Our Skin" about the Lyme epidemic and realized that a tick bite she got in 2005 could still be causing her health problems, even though she'd been treated with a standard course of antibiotics for Lyme disease at the time. She experienced debilitating symptoms over the course of several years that made her unable to move or speak at times, and she began to heal after two years of "intensive therapy," according to The New York Times. Yolanda Hadid is one of the most outspoken celebrity voices spreading awareness of the disease. Hadid was a cast member on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" in 2012, but viewers didn't know that behind the scenes, she was dealing with symptoms of chronic Lyme disease. In the past decade, she's become known as a public advocate for those with Lyme while documenting her own debilitating neurological and physical symptoms and how she's coped with them. In 2017, she published the memoir "Believe Me: My Battle with the Invisible Disability of Lyme Disease." "Most people still don't seem to believe that chronic Lyme disease even exists," she told Vogue in 2023. "As the saying goes: You don't truly get it until you get it." Bella Hadid has also spoken about having Lyme disease. In late 2015, after going public with her diagnosis, Yolanda said that her daughter, Bella Hadid, has Lyme disease, too. On August 6, 2023, the model posted a series of photos on Instagram of her receiving shots and undergoing medical procedures alongside a long caption. " … I am okay and you do not have to worry, and 2:I wouldn't change anything for the world. If I had to go through all of this again, to get here, to this exact moment I'm in right now, with all of you, finally healthy, I would do it all again. It made me who I am today," she wrote. She continued, " … I have so much gratitude for and perspective on life , this 100+ days of Lyme, chronic disease , co infection treatment, almost 15 years of invisible suffering, was all worth it if I'm able to, God willing, have a lifetime of spreading love from a full cup, and being able to truly be myself … " This story was originally published in November 2018 and most recently updated on July 31, 2025.
2 days ago
Is the postpartum pill helping women?
"GMA" explores the pros and cons as the first pill for postpartum depression shows mixed results in the real world. July 31, 2025
