Nursing influencer Hailey O’Cula’s spouse shared the devastating last moments he experienced with his wife prior to her passing due to complications following the birth of their first child.
The mother, who had faced challenges with Matthew O’Culla for two years, joked about how large their newborn might become just moments before she experienced cardiac arrest, O’Culla recounted to Fox 11 Los Angeles on Wednesday.
“A moment later, the physician informed me they were performing CPR. I was faced with the decision, ‘Should I go to the ICU to be with my wife, or stay with my newborn baby?’,” the emotional new father shared.
Haley Okula ultimately fell victim to an amniotic fluid embolism. This infrequent complication occurs when remaining materials from the mother’s uterus obstruct blood circulation.
For Haley, it marked the sorrowful conclusion of a two-year journey to conceive a child that inspired countless followers online.
“She desperately wanted to be the best mom,” Matthew O’Culla expressed to Fox11.
As reported by the National Institutes of Health, amniotic fluid embolism stands as the primary cause of mortality during and shortly after delivery, accounting for 7.5% of maternal fatalities.
“Words cannot capture the magnitude of my sorrow,” Okula said alongside a touching video montage celebrating his bond with Haley.
“She was beautiful, intelligent, dedicated, passionate, trustworthy, and above all, incredibly loyal. For nearly 13 years, she represented everything I could ever hope to discover in my partner.”
