'Dancing with the Stars' judge Derek Hough asks for "prayers" for Hayley Erbert

Dancing with the Stars judge Derek Hough has asked for prayers as Hayley Erbert undergoes her second skull surgery in the hospital.


"I strongly believe all the prayers that have been sent with the intention and love of Hayley's recovery has helped so much," Derek, 38, wrote via Instagram Stories on Wednesday, December 20, shortly after posting a beautiful video montage of sweet and silly moments he's shared with his wife over the years.

"I can't thank you all enough. She is going in for surgery this morning to replace a large portion of her skull that was removed during her Craniectomy. Please keep her in your prayers as I believe the collective energy helped her through these past few weeks."

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Derek concluded his message by writing, "We love you. We thank you."


Derek's sister Julianne Hough reposted Derek's message on her own Instagram Stories and added a praying emoji as well as a heart emoji.

Derek first announced Hayley's medical crisis via Instagram on Thursday, December 7, while at a tour stop in Washington, D.C. for the couple's "Symphony of Dance" show.

Hayley, 29, became "disoriented" after a performance and was taken to the hospital, where she discovered she had a cranial hematoma from a burst blood vessel and required an emergency craniectomy.

Derek revealed last week that Hayley, whom he married in August, was in "stable condition" post-surgery and had begun "the long road of recovery."

Derek later posted an update about his dance partner's condition on Friday, December 15.


"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," the Dancing with the Stars judge captioned an Instagram video of Hayley and himself slowly walking around Washington, D.C. while Hayley was wearing a helmet.

"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."

Derek went on to write how Hayley was "doing well" after her first surgery, although her "recovery process has been nothing short of a miracle."

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The pro dancer and choreographer continued of his wife, "She still has a ways to go with another surgery, hopefully in a few weeks, to insert a skull implant to replace the piece that was removed during the craniectomy."


"It will restore the skull to its natural shape and protect the brain from injury," Derek explained.

"Thank you for the incredible support and medical care she has received. It's been a profound reminder of how fragile life can be and how quickly things can change. 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."

Derek then expressed "gratitude" to family, friends and fans for their "unwavering support, messages, prayers and undeniable loving energy" that both he and Hayley have felt during this time.

"While this isn't the holiday season either of us envisioned, it's one that we're incredibly grateful to have. We look forward to cherishing these moments with a deeper appreciation for life and the people in it," Derek concluded.

"We love you all. With heartfelt thanks, Hayley and Derek."


Hayley went to the hospital only one day after Dancing with the Stars aired its Season 32 finale on ABC, when Marvel star Xochitl Gomez and her professional partner Val Chmerkovskiy were crowned champions.

Hayley faced another health scare around this same time last year, when she and Derek got into a snowy and "scary" accident while driving on icy roads together.

Hayley and Derek had posted the same video on Instagram in December 2022 that showed Hayley receiving stitches on the side of her face after their car hit a tree and then recovering with a bunch of junk food.

"On December 12, Derek and I got into a pretty scary car accident in the mountains. Our accident involved a steep hill, icy roads, a tree, and worst of all, the fear that we would slide off the mountain," Hayley captioned the video.

"Given the circumstances, we have so much to be grateful for. First, that there were no other people involved. Second, the quick response from paramedics. And lastly, that we are both okay and that I only walked away a little banged up, a swollen face, and four stitches above my eyebrow."


Hayley concluded, "Now, more than ever, we realize how fragile life is and how important it is to love those around you. We hope that everyone has a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season."

Derek, however, wrote in his then-fiancee's comments that she didn't "remember anything" after the crash and she was "dazed afterwards," yet still "cheerful."

Derek and Hayley got engaged in June 2022 after more than six years of dating.

"It's only the beginning... the beginning of forever," the couple wrote in a joint Instagram post at the time.

Hayley and Derek met in 2014 when Hayley joined Derek and Julianne on their "Move Live Tour," according to Us Weekly.

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Hayley and Derek's work relationship took a romantic turn one year later in 2015.

But Hayley didn't find fame until she competed on So You Think You Can Dance's tenth season as a contemporary dancer and also performed as a member of the Dancing with the Stars troupe beginning in 2016.







About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski