Derek Hough’s Wife Hayley Erbert ‘Grateful to Be Alive’ in First Appearance Since Craniectomy: ‘New Year, New Skull’

Derek Hough and wife Hayley Erbert are finally opening up about their terrifying medical condition.

Two months after Erbert, 29, was hospitalized and underwent a craniectomy, the couple posted a raw and emotional video on Instagram reflecting on the experience and her ongoing recovery.

“It was wild going from the highest to the lowest lows. But I have to say that through this experience, this woman has been incredible and her perseverance and her acceptance of the whole situation, her strength, it’s been amazing to witness firsthand,” said Hough, 38. “She really is a miracle and it was and still is an amazing journey.”

“To this day, I still have really good days and I have really bad days — sometimes emotionally and physically — but I’m getting a lot better every day,” Erbert added. “There really is so much progress every day and I’m very grateful for that.”

Hayley Erbert and Derek Hough on November 15, 2022 in Los Angeles.

Steven Simione/Getty

Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert are celebrating their first Christmas together as she recovers from skull surgery

Erbert then recalled the moment in the hospital when she had just woken up after her first surgery, and Hough had told her how many people were thinking of her and sending her love. She admitted that her husband didn’t even have to tell her because she “honestly felt it through my body, in my heart, in my soul.”

“Thank you all so much for all your messages, your love, your energy, your light, your prayers,” Erbert said through tears. “Thank you for everything because it means a lot to me and to us as a family. And honestly, I believe that’s what helped me through this a little faster and that’s what helped me heal. It helped me stay positive throughout the whole experience.”

“It’s a new year, a new haircut,” Hough said as Erbert smiled and showed off her short hair and the surgery scar on the top of her head.

“New haircut, new scar, new bag of fluid on the side of my face, which should go away with time,” Erbert said with a laugh. “A new skull. But also a new outlook on life. Life is so precious. Spend time with the ones you love. Keep them close because you never know what could happen.”

Erbert added that she is “grateful to be alive and to be here to tell my story.” Hough also said the couple will eventually share more details about the health scare with fans.

Derek Hough’s wife Hayley Erbert undergoes emergency craniectomy — what you need to know about brain surgery

Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert.

Jon Kopaloff/Getty

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Hough first announced on Instagram that Erbert was suffering from symptoms of a cranial hematoma — when blood collects in the skull — after their Symphony of Dance tour stop in the city on Dec. 6.

In an update he shared on his website, Dancing with the stars the judge revealed that his wife was diagnosed with a cranial hematoma due to a ruptured blood vessel and required an immediate craniectomy. Erbert was rushed into emergency surgery on December 7.

Following her surgery, Hough regularly updated his social media followers on his wife’s condition and thanked them for their continued support.

“It is with immense relief, gratitude and immense joy that I want to share that Hayley’s cranioplasty surgery was successfully completed as planned,” he wrote.

Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert.

Jesse Grant/Getty

A timeline of Hayley Erbert’s health scare and her ongoing recovery

“My sincere thanks go to the exceptional medical team,” he continued. “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 the one who saved her life 2 weeks ago.”

“This surgery marks a significant milestone in my wife’s recovery, and your support has been instrumental in getting us there,” Hough said at the time. “We are full of hope and optimism for the future, knowing that she is on the road to a full recovery, surrounded by a loving community.”

Hough and Erbert married in August 2023 in California, just over a year after getting engaged in June 2022.

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Source: HIS Education