They say having a child is the ultimate full-circle moment—the kind of joy that makes every detour and heartbreak feel worth it. For one former Boise State gymnast, that long-awaited moment finally came… but heartbreak wasn’t done with her just yet. She was one of those people who didn’t just wear different hats—she made it look effortless. A star on the college gymnastics scene, she left her mark at Boise State with the kind of talent that coaches dream of. After college, she swapped leotards for scrubs, diving headfirst into the fast-paced world of emergency medicine. But the ER wasn’t her only arena.
Hailey Okula, 33, passed away on March 31, just hours after delivering her baby boy via C-section. One minute, she was smiling and laughing with her husband, L.A. firefighter Matthew Okula. Because for former Boise State gymnast- welcoming her baby boy came after years of infertility struggles and a tough IVF journey. But in a twist too cruel to believe, that moment of joy turned into the unimaginable. The cause of death?
We are saddened to hear of the passing of former Boise State gymnast Hailey Okula.
Our thoughts are with her husband and newborn as they navigate this tragic loss. The GoFundMe link is attached below:
https://t.co/GU4vYmzRPx pic.twitter.com/rFDbzKYR3u
— Boise State Gymnastics (@BroncoSportsGYM) April 4, 2025
A rare and devastating complication called amniotic fluid embolism (AFE), which led to sudden cardiac arrest. Her husband, L.A. firefighter Matthew Okula, shared the heartbreaking news just days later on Instagram, writing, “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.” The couple had been open about their fertility journey, sharing every hopeful step online—from IVF injections to Hailey’s pregnancy milestones.
Even on Sept. 17, 2024, she announced the big news: “Dealing with infertility for almost two years… I still can’t believe this is real.” It was supposed to be their happy ending. But instead of celebrating, the world is now mourning—and when the gymnastics community heard the news, hearts shattered everywhere.
The gymnastics world remembers a champion on and off the mat
One gymnastics fan wrote, “So heartbreaking… I can’t imagine the weight her husband is carrying.” Another said, “Oh my. This is so extremely sad.” And one more echoed the collective grief, simply adding, “ May her soul RIP .” Hailey wasn’t just a standout on the mat, she was a powerhouse off it too. At Boise State (2010–2012), she racked up All-WAC first-team honors, nailed 9.950s on vault like it was nothing, and helped her team clinch the 2011 WAC title.
After college, she hung up her leotard and slipped into scrubs, becoming an ER nurse and launching RN New Grads to guide new nurses just starting out. Online, she was known as “Nurse Hailey” to 440,000 followers, sharing her real-life IVF struggles, the joy of pregnancy, and everything in between. She touched so many lives… and her loss has left one enormous hole in every community she was part of.
Tributes have been pouring in nonstop. One more gymnastics fan wrote, “Lord have mercy may her memory be eternal and may God comfort him in his grief. ” Another said, “Devastating. Prayers for the family that they have the strength to carry on. Words cannot properly describe how sad this is.” And ironically heartbreakingly even as an experienced ER nurse, Hailey couldn’t have predicted what would happen to her. The complication?
An amniotic fluid embolism, or AFE — a rare and often fatal condition that causes an allergic-like reaction when amniotic fluid enters the bloodstream during or after childbirth. And that’s what makes this loss cut even deeper. Here was a woman who had spent her whole career saving lives — and yet, when it mattered most, the odds were stacked against her. According to Healthline, AFE is the second most common cause of maternal death in the U.S., and it hits without warning.
What was supposed to be their fairytale ending turned into heartbreak but Hailey’s impact lives on, in every gymnast, every nurse, she mentored, every patient she cared for, and the beautiful baby boy, Crew, she brought into the world. But even in the middle of so much pain, people are remembering the way she lived—with purpose, passion of gymnastics, and a whole lot of heart.
The post “RIP”: Gymnastics Community Heartbroken As Former Boise State Star Passes Away at 33 appeared first on EssentiallySports.