Hayley Erbert and Derek Hough “change the story” of the stage where Hayley almost lost her life
In December 2023, professional dancers Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert were traveling the country for their Symphony of Dance tour when Hayley experienced a medical emergency. After a performance in Washington D.C., the then-29-year-old “became disoriented and was taken to the hospital.”
Derek later revealed that Hayley was having seizures backstage and was “essentially dying.”
Hayley was diagnosed with a cranial hematoma, or a pooling of blood in the skull. As a result, she underwent an emergency craniectomy, a procedure that involves “removing a portion of the skull in order to relieve pressure on the underlying brain.”
View this post on Instagram
A few weeks later, Hayley underwent a second surgery. This time, it was to receive a skull implant to replace the portion that was removed during the craniectomy.
The couple, who wed just four months before Hayley’s health scare, are beloved members of the Dancing With The Stars franchise. Fans watched compassionately in the months that followed as Derek gave periodic updates on his wife’s condition.
View this post on Instagram
Hayley Erbert returns to the dance floor following two brain surgeries
In April 2024, Hayley shared the exciting news that she had been cleared to dance again. She resumed her role in the Symphony of Dance shows beside her husband.
Later, the pair celebrated Hayley’s miraculous recovery with an emotional return to DTWS. They performed a beautifully choreographed routine set to Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things,” leaving the audience in tears.
Watch Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert’s emotional dance below.
Derek and Hayley commemorate the one-year anniversary on the very stage where her brain bleed occurred
On December 5th, the DWTS stars returned to the stage in Washington D.C. where Hayley nearly lost her life one year prior. In a heartfelt post online, Derek reflected on the opportunity they had to “change the story of that room.” He wrote:
“We transformed it, from fear to beauty, from uncertainty to faith, and from despair to triumph.”
During the show, they invited Dr. Mai, the surgeon from MedStar Washington Hospital who performed both the life-saving craniectomy and the skull transplant, to join them on stage. Derek shared:
“We got to share a moment on stage thanking him for the gift of more time, more memories, and more love.”
“This year has taught us so much about grace, how the more we acknowledge it, the more we experience it. Beauty is all around us if we open our eyes to it, and faith can guide us even in the darkest moments.”
Finally, Derek concludes:
“One year later, standing on that same stage, we know this: life is fragile, love is everything, and we are stronger than ever.“
Read Derek Hough’s full post and watch the video below!