Derek Hough Asks for 'Prayers' as Hayley Erbert Undergoes 2nd Skull Surgery

Derek Hough is sharing another update on wife Hayley Erbert‘s health following her emergency craniectomy.

“I strongly believe all the prayers that have been sent with the intention and love of Hayley’s recovery has helped so much,” Hough, 38, wrote via his Instagram Story on Wednesday, December 20. “I can’t thank you all enough.”

Hough informed fans that Erbert’s journey wasn’t over yet. “She is going in for surgery this morning to replace a large portion of her skull that was removed during her Craniectomy,” he continued. “Please keep her in your prayers as I believe the collective energy helped her through these past few weeks.”

He concluded, “We love you. We thank you.”

Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert
Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert

Related: Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert’s Relationship Timeline

Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert captivated audiences with their chemistry well before they started dating. The former Dancing With the Stars pro first connected with Erbert after she was cast as one of the dancers in his and sister Julianne Hough’s Move Live Tour in 2014. By July 2015, they were a couple. Derek played […]

Hough’s sister, Julianne Hough, reposted his message via her own Instagram Story on Wednesday, adding a praying emoji and a red heart emoji.

Earlier this month, Derek revealed that Erbert, 29, was in “stable condition” after requiring an emergency operation. “At the end of last night’s tour performance in Washington, D.C., my wife Hayley became disoriented and was taken to the hospital,” he wrote in an Instagram statement on December 7. “She was diagnosed with a cranial hematoma from a burst blood vessel and required an emergency craniectomy.”

Derek Hough Says Wife Hayley Erbert Will Undergo 2nd Surgery to Replace Large Portion of Skull
Hayley Erbert and Derek Hough Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

While he didn’t go into specifics about Erbert’s health scare at the time, Derek thanked the “first responders and medical personnel” who came to her aid. “I ask for your prayers and positivity during this time,” he added.

The couple’s Dancing With the Stars family shared positive thoughts in the comments section as Erbert received care. “Omg Derek. Please send her our love!!” Peta Murgatroyd wrote, while season 32 champ Xochitl Gomez commented, “Focusing all my positivity and well wishes directly toward Hayley. She is a shining light

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Dancing with the Stars Pros Where Are They Now

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Mirrorball champs or not, Dancing With the Stars has featured some impeccable professional dancers in the years since the ABC competition series premiered in 2005. Derek Hough, Cheryl Burke and Maksim Chmerkovskiy are among the talent who have lit up the ballroom. Some of the show’s stars went on to achieve major success in their careers while […]

One day later, Derek revealed that his wife was “on the long road to recovery” after her operation. “Hayley has always inspired me with her strength, her resilience and no more so than in the last 48 hours. … Words cannot express how grateful and thankful we are for the support and love that you have given us,” he noted in a social media upload on December 8. “The kindness that we’ve been shown in this incredibly unfathomable and life changing time is immovable.”

Continuing to update fans on Erbert’s condition, Derek noted on Friday, December 15, that he was beginning to feel some “relief” in the wake of her surgery. “As you all know, the past week has been a challenging journey for us due to a life-threatening event that suddenly came into our lives,” he captioned an Instagram video. “It was a time filled with uncertainty and fear — going from living our dreams onstage to a nightmare in an instant. But today, we are filled with hope and relief as we share with you an update.”

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'Dancing With the Stars' Family Members to Grace the Ballroom as Pros: Rylee Arnold and More

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Rylee Arnold isn’t the first family member — let alone sibling — of a Dancing With the Stars pro to enter the ballroom. Julianne Hough was the first dancer to face off against her brother, Derek Hough, in the competition. After Julianne got her start on the series in season 4 in 2007, she was […]

According to Derek, Erbert’s recovery “has been nothing short of a miracle.” He explained on Friday that her second surgery “will restore the skull to its natural shape and protect the brain from injury” and thanked fans once again for their “incredible support.”

“It’s been a profound reminder of how fragile life can be and how quickly things can change,” Hough wrote. “But, it has also shown us the incredible strength and resilience that lies within us and the power of having a supportive community around us. … We look forward to cherishing these moments with a deeper appreciation for life and the people in it.”

Derek and Erbert began dating in 2015, one year after she joined him and Julianne, 35, on tour. He proposed in 2022, and the twosome tied the knot in August.

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