Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert Celebrate First Christmas Together as She Recovers From Skull Surgery

"Cherishing the greatest gift of all," Erbert and Hough captioned a photo the couple kissing by a Christmas tree

Derek Hough is celebrating wife Hayley Erbert's recovery this Christmas.

Erbert, 29, and the Dancing with the Stars judge, 38, wished followers a Merry Christmas on Monday by sharing a photo of themselves kissing in front of a Christmas tree on Instagram. They celebrated their first holiday season together as a married couple amid Erbert’s craniectomy recovery.

"Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas! 🎄 Cherishing the greatest gift of all," the couple captioned the joint post. "The precious gift of life and the love we share. Hold your loved ones close and treasure every moment. ♥️."

The couple tied the knot in August in California just over a year after getting engaged in June 2022. While this is their first Christmas together as newlyweds, the couple has been together since 2015 when they both appeared on Dancing With the Stars. They kept their relationship under wraps for the first few years until making their Instagram debut in 2017. Ever since, they've been sharing sweet updates about their romance with fans.

The two joined forces to perform their Symphony of Dance tour around the country. During their Washington D.C., stop in early December, Erbert was diagnosed with a cranial hematoma from a burst blood vessel and required an emergency craniectomy. Erbert was rushed into emergency surgery on Dec. 7.

Related: Derek Hough’s Wife Hayley Erbert Underwent An Emergency Craniectomy — What to Know About the Brain Surgery

Last Thursday, Hough shared that Erbert’s cranioplasty surgery was “successfully completed as planned.”

"My sincere appreciation goes to the exceptional medical team,” wrote Hough in the Instagram caption. “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."

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."

Related: Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert's Relationship Timeline

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Ahead of Erbert's surgery, Hough had told fans his wife would need to receive a skull implant.

At the time, the professional dancer shared on Instagram that the skull implant will “restore [Erbert’s] to its natural shape and protect the brain from injury.”

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

“Your thoughts, prayers, and positive energy have been a source of strength and comfort for us during this challenging time,” Hough wrote on Thursday. “It’s truly heartwarming to know how much love and care surrounds us.”

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