Derek Hough Feels 'Overwhelming Joy' After Wife Hayley Erbert's Skull Surgery Was 'Successfully Completed'

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"We are filled with hope and optimism for the future," Derek Hough shared on Instagram

<p>Jesse Grant/Getty</p> Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert

Jesse Grant/Getty

Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert

Derek Hough announced that his wife Hayley Erbert is out of surgery after having a “large portion of her skull” replaced following her emergency craniectomy earlier this month.

On Thursday, the 38-year-old Dancing with the Stars judge posted an update on Instagram. "With immense relief, gratitude and overwhelming joy I’d like to share that Hayley’s cranioplasty surgery has been successfully completed as planned," he wrote.

"My sincere appreciation goes to the exceptional medical team. Their expertise and steady hands were pivotal in this journey, ensuring a smooth and successful surgery. Especially Dr. Mai who not only performed the surgery but was also the one who saved her life 2 weeks ago."

"We are profoundly touched by the outpouring of support and prayers from each of you. Your thoughts, prayers, and positive energy have been a source of strength and comfort for us during this challenging time. It’s truly heartwarming to know how much love and care surrounds us.

He went on to say, "This surgery marks a significant milestone in my wife’s recovery journey, and your support has played a crucial role in getting us here. We are filled with hope and optimism for the future, knowing she is on the path to a full recovery, surrounded by such a loving community."

Related: Julianne Hough Asks for Prayers After Brother Derek Hough's Wife Hayley Erbert Is Hospitalized

Last week, Hough revealed that Erbert, 29, would need a skull implant in the coming weeks following her craniectomy earlier this month.

“It will restore the skull to its natural shape and protect the brain from injury,” he wrote on Instagram.

Hough noted that his wife’s “recovery process has been nothing short of a miracle,” and added that although “Hayley is doing well,” she “still has a ways to go.”

The professional dancer’s words were accompanied by a video of himself and Erbert walking hand in hand on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Hough also admitted that the “life-threatening event” has become “a profound reminder of how fragile life can be and how quickly things can change.”

“It has also shown us the incredible strength and resilience that lies within us and the power of having a supportive community around us,” Hough continued. “We cannot express enough gratitude to each of you for your unwavering support, messages, prayers and undeniable loving energy we have both felt during this time.”

Related: A Timeline of Hayley Erbert's Health Scare and Her Ongoing Recovery

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Erbert suffered symptoms of a cranial hematoma — when blood collects in the skull — after their Symphony of Dance tour stop in the city on Dec. 6.

In an update shared on his website, Hough revealed that his wife was diagnosed with a cranial hematoma from a burst blood vessel and required an emergency craniectomy. Erbert was rushed into her emergency surgery on Dec. 7.

Since her surgery, Hough has been providing his social media followers with regular updates on his wife's condition and thanked them for their ongoing support.

Hough and Erbert tied the knot in August in California just over a year after getting engaged in June 2022.

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