Derek Hough is celebrating his wife Hayley Erbert’s recovery this Christmas. Erbert, 29, i Dancing with the stars the judge (38) wished her followers a Merry Christmas on Monday by sharing a photo of them kissing in front of the Christmas tree on Instagram. They celebrated their first holiday together as a married couple amid Erbert’s recovery from a craniectomy.
“We wish everyone a Merry Christmas! 🎄 We appreciate the greatest gift of all,” the couple wrote in a joint post. “The precious gift of life and the love we share. Hold your loved ones close and cherish every moment. ♥️.”
Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert.
Hayley Erbert/Instagram
The couple tied the knot in August in California, just over a year after getting engaged in June 2022. Although this is their first Christmas together as newlyweds, the pair have been together since 2015 when they both appeared on Dancing with the stars. They kept their relationship under wraps for the first few years until they made their Instagram debut in 2017. Since then, they’ve been sharing sweet updates about their romance with fans.
The two joined forces to take their Symphony of Dance tour across the country. During their stop in Washington DC in early December, Erbert was diagnosed with a cranial hematoma due to a ruptured blood vessel and required an emergency craniectomy. Erbert was rushed to emergency surgery on December 7.
Derek Hough’s wife Hayley Erbert undergoes emergency craniectomy — what you need to know about brain surgery
Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert in Washington DC in December 2023.
Derek Hough/ Instagram
Last Thursday, Hough shared that Erbert’s cranioplasty surgery was “successfully completed as planned.”
“My sincere gratitude goes out to an exceptional medical team,” Hough wrote in an Instagram caption. “Their expertise and steady hands were key along the way, ensuring a smooth and successful surgery. Especially Dr. Mai who not only performed the surgery, but was also the one who saved her life 2 weeks ago.”
He then said: “This operation marks a significant milestone in my wife’s recovery and your support has played a key role in getting us here.”
Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert Relationship Timeline
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling people-interest stories.
Ahead of Erbert’s surgery, Hough told fans that his wife would need to get a skull implant.
At the time, the professional dancer shared on Instagram that the skull implant would “restore [Erbert’s] into its natural form and protect the brain from injury.”
Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert on their honeymoon.
Derek Hough/Instagram
Since Erbert’s emergency craniectomy, Hough has regularly updated his social media followers on his wife’s condition and thanked them for their continued support.
“Your thoughts, prayers and positive energy have been a source of strength and comfort to us during this challenging time,” Hough wrote Thursday. “It’s really nice to know how much love and care surrounds us.”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education