Professional Dancer Hayley Erbert Makes Astounding Recovery Following Emergency Brain Surgery

In December 2023, Dancing With the Stars alum Derek Hough's wife Hayley Erbert underwent an emergency craniectomy. The procedure involves the removal of a portion of the skull to relieve pressure on the brain, per Cedars-Sinai. After a few months of recovering, the "missing piece of skull [is] replaced with [the] original bone or a synthetic material," the medical facility explains on its website.

The professional dancer shared on social media that Hayley had suffered a cranial hematoma while they were on tour for their Symphony of Dance.

What's the update on Hayley's health? Keep reading for all of the details.

Derek took to Instagram on Dec. 7, 2023, to share with fans what had happened to his wife.

"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 shared with his 3.2 million followers.

He went on to write, "She was diagnosed with a cranial hematoma from a burst blood vessel and required an emergency craniectomy. She is in stable condition."

According to the Mayo Clinic, a cranial hematoma results from a collection of blood in a person's skull. As in Hayley's case, this condition typically happens when a blood vessel bursts in the brain.

Per the medical authority, an intracranial hematoma "is potentially life-threatening," and "requires immediate treatment," such as surgery.

The following day, Derek offered fans an update on Hayley's health. He gushed about his wife's "will," "strength," and "resilience," before saying that she "is now on the long road to recovery."

Derek went on to share a message of gratitude, writing, “The kindness that we've been shown in this incredibly unfathomable, and life-changing time is immeasurable. The offers of assistance that have poured in have been so humbling and appreciated. Our hope is that as a family, we can somehow and someway pay it forward.”

Fans sent prayers the couple's way, as did their many celebrity friends who also shared messages of encouragement and love.

Allison Holker, who lost her husband Steven "tWitch" Boss in 2022, commented on Derek's health update, "Sending all my love."

DWTS host Alfonso Ribeiro said, "No need to repay any prayers. We are all holding you both in our hearts."

From Chrishell Stause to Peta Murgatroyd, and from Ricki Lake to Mira Sorvino, there was no shortage of star support for Derek and Hayley.

On Feb. 6, 2024, Derek and Hayley took to Instagram together to post a video update on how things have been going amid Hayley's recovery.

Derek praised his wife's "perseverance and her acceptance of the whole situation" and called her a "miracle." Hayley said that she still has good and bad days, but that she's "doing so much better every single day" and is "so grateful" for the progress.

She also thanked everyone for all of their love and support, saying that she genuinely believes "it’s what’s gotten me through this a little bit faster and it’s what helped me heal. It’s what helped me stay positive throughout the entire experience.”

Hayley said this has given her a "new outlook on life," and encouraged others to "spend time" with loved ones and "hold them close 'cause you never know what could happen."

On March 10, 2024, Derek shared another update on his wife, indicating the positive progress she has been making. He filmed the video from inside their home as she performed stretches on a yoga mat in their backyard.

Then, on April 5, 2024, just four months following her emergency craniectomy, Hayley made a triumphant declaration: She would resume dancing on stage for the Symphony of Dance tour!

"Hi everyone, I am so excited to announce that I have been cleared to rejoin the Symphony of Dance tour and I will be dancing when the tour begins on April 14 in Melbourne, Florida," Hayley said in a video via Good Morning America.

"We cannot wait to dance together again on stage and be back with all of our fans and thank them," Derek added. "Thank you all for the amazing support that you've shown during this time, so we cannot wait and we'll see you very very soon."