Derek Hough Dedicates Emmy to Wife Hayley as She Recovers from Skull Surgery: 'You Inspire Me Every Day'

Hough, who won for outstanding choreography on 'Dancing with the Stars,' praised his wife for her "strength" and "courage" after surgery to treat a cranial hematoma

Derek Hough brought home Emmy gold Sunday night, a win that brought tears to his eyes for more than one reason.

While accepting the Creative Arts Emmy Award for outstanding choreography for variety or reality programming for his work on Dancing with the Stars, Hough's eyes welled up as he praised his wife Hayley Erbert, who is recovering from recent surgery on her skull.

"Exactly a month ago, I was in the hospital. This was a different moment," he said tearfully. "A month ago was a life-changing moment that reminded me to really cherish and savor every moment."

"I want to dedicate this to my beautiful wife," he continued. "I just flew in from Washington, D.C., last night. Your strength and your courage this whole month has been unbelievable. You inspired me every day.”

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

On Dec. 7, the newlyweds were at their Washington D.C., stop in their Symphony of Dance tour when Erbert required an emergency craniectomy after being diagnosed with a cranial hematoma from a burst blood vessel.

A few weeks later, after Erbert went in for a second surgery, Hough shared that a follow-up cranioplasty to repair her skull had been “successfully completed as planned.”

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

Related: Julianne Hough Shares She's Holding Her Family ‘Extra Tight’ After Sister-in-Law Hayley Erbert’s Emergency Craniectomy

He added, "This surgery marks a significant milestone in my wife’s recovery journey, and your support has played a crucial role in getting us here."

Since Erbert’s surgery, Hough has been providing his social media followers with regular updates on his wife's condition and thank 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.”

The couple — who have have been together since 2015 when they both appeared on Dancing with the Stars — tied the knot in California last August after getting engaged in June 2022.

Last month, they expressed their gratitude for their life and health while celebrating their first holiday season together as a married couple.

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

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

See PEOPLE's full coverage of the 75th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, which will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET this Jan. 15 on Fox.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.