Hayley Erbert and Derek Hough.Photo:Steven Simione/Getty
Steven Simione/Getty
Derek Houghcouldn’t be more proud of his wifeHayley Erbert.
TheDancing with the Starsjudge, 38, said he is in “awe” of Erbert, 29, after her recentcraniectomyas he discussed her health recovery at the Los Angeles premiere ofThis Is Me… Now: A Love Story, in which he stars oppositeJennifer Lopez, on Tuesday.
“She’s unbelievable. When I married her, I knew she was strong, but I really didn’t realize how strong she really was until now,” Hough toldEntertainment Tonight.
“I’m just, I really am in awe of her everyday,” he continued. “She’s incredible. She really is a miracle and I don’t really throw that word around lightly, but she really is.”
Hough said he is in “awe” of wife Erbert after her recent surgeries.David Livingston/WireImage
David Livingston/WireImage
On Dec, 7, 2023, Erbert underwent an"emergency craniectomy” after suffering a cranial hematoma — a collection of blood cells within the skull — during the pair’s Symphony of Dance tour stop in Washington, D.C.Erbert then underwent further surgeryon Dec. 20 to “replace a large portion of her skull” that was removed during the craniectomy.
Speaking about his wife’s surgeries, Hough toldET,“It’s been a crazy time, but I tell you what, it’s been an amazing and beautiful time, because all the little wins, the triumphs, it’s just incredible.” “She’s amazing,” he added.
Earlier this month, Hough and Erbert spoke of having the“highest of highs to the lowest of lows”as they opened up about their experience and her recovery in anemotional videoposted on Instagram.
“It’s been wild … But I have to say, throughout this experience this woman has been unbelievable and her perseverance and her acceptance of the whole situation, her strength, it’s been remarkable to witness firsthand,” Hough said. “She really is a miracle and it’s been miraculous and it’s still a journey.”
Speaking out for the first time since her craniectomy, Erbert shared, “To this day, I still have really good days and I have really bad days — emotionally and physically sometimes — but I’m doing so much better every single day,” Erbert added. “Truly there is so much progress every day and I’m so grateful for that.”
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The pair thanked fans for their support again as Erbert also unveiled her short hair and surgery scar on the top of her head.
“A new haircut, a new scar, a new sac of fluid on the side of my face, which is supposed to eventually go away,” she said, adding that post-surgery she has “a new outlook on life” and is “grateful to be alive and be here to tell my story.”
source: people.com
