Derek Hough's Touching Dedication to Beloved Wife Hayley Erbert Following Health Scare and Emmy Win
Derek Hough triumphs at the Emmys, dedicating his fourth win to his resilient wife, Hayley Erbert, who recently underwent emergency surgery for a cranial hematoma A heartwarming display of love and support amidst their challenging journey
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Derek Hough isn’t taking anything for granted following his wife Hayley Erbert’s recent health scare.
"It's been exactly one month since I was in the hospital. This experience has been life-changing," Hough, 38, shared as he accepted the award for Outstanding Choreography for Variety Or Reality Programming for Dancing With the Stars at the Creative Arts Emmys on Sunday, January 7. "It has reminded me to truly appreciate and treasure every moment."
Continuing, Hough dedicated his win to his "amazing wife," saying, "I just arrived from Washington, D.C. last night. Your resilience and bravery this past month has been incredible. You inspire me each and every day."
Hough announced on Instagram last month that Erbert, 29, had been hospitalized after a performance on his A Symphony of Dance tour in Washington, D.C. He shared that she was diagnosed with a cranial hematoma and required emergency surgery. Following the initial surgery, Erbert underwent a second procedure to restore part of her skull. Hough expressed his relief, gratitude, and joy over the successful completion of Erbert's cranioplasty surgery in a post featuring a photo of himself by her hospital bed on December 21, 2023.
In addition to expressing gratitude to his wife’s medical team, Hough shared with fans, "Your thoughts, prayers, and positive energy have been a source of strength and comfort for us during this challenging time. It's truly heartwarming to know how much love and care surrounds us."
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He observed that the second surgery was a "major milestone in my wife's journey to recovery" and that Erbert is "on track to fully recovering." Other DWTS professionals and Derek's sister, Julianne Hough, have been openly supportive of the couple during this difficult time. "Holding my family extra close this holiday season ️," Julianne, 35, wrote alongside photos of herself embracing Derek and Erbert on December 21, 2023, via Instagram.
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After recovering from her cranial hematoma, Erbert made a return to social media with a heartwarming PDA photo with Derek in front of their Christmas tree. "Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas! Cherishing the greatest gift of all - the precious gift of life and the love we share," she captioned the Instagram post. "Hold your loved ones close and treasure every moment ❤️."
Derek, in his recent social media post, reflected on the "challenges and joys" of their year, which included their wedding in August 2023 and the passing of DWTS judge Len Goodman in April 2023. "These experiences are treasures of gratitude, reminding us of life’s splendor and its fleeting nature," Derek wrote on Instagram as they approached the new year. "Each day of our extraordinary journey teaches us to cherish every fleeting moment."
