It was a day he’ll always remember. On December 6, 2023, simply outdoors of Washington, D.C., whereas on their Symphony of Dance Tour, Derek Hough took the stage to introduce a duet that he and spouse Hayley Erbert Hough have been set to carry out in honor of the late Dancing With the Stars choose Len Goodman. “Paradoxically, I’m speaking about how valuable life is and the right way to savor this quick time that we’ve got right here and the family members we’ve got,” remembers Derek, who was ready for Hayley to affix him in entrance of the gang for his or her routine. “And as I’m saying these phrases, not likely realizing it, Hayley was on the facet of the stage, having seizures and primarily dying.”
Earlier within the present, unbeknownst to everybody, Hayley had suffered a near-fatal cranial hematoma. “I simply keep in mind being on stage,” she says. “I do keep in mind being in a whole lot of ache… [but] I keep in mind dancing, after which my world simply went black.” Nonetheless in her costume, Hayley was rushed to a close-by hospital the place she underwent an emergency craniectomy, eradicating 40 % of her cranium, in a determined try to save lots of her life. “I used to be instructed… she won’t survive, and even when she does, she most probably gained’t be the identical individual,” shares Derek. “That was a devastating second. When individuals say your entire world comes crashing down, I feel it’s correct as a result of it actually looks like that. The room simply falls on you.”
Hayley by no means stopped combating. And, by way of the ability of affection and willpower, she’s made almost a full restoration. “It was one of the troublesome occasions of my life,” Hayley, 30, says, explaining that she was “relearning the right way to reside.” She knew she had two choices: “I may [have sat there] and simply been ‘poor me’ all day lengthy, each single day. However I used to be like, no — there’s a lot magnificence on this life nonetheless. And I need to reside for it.” Going ahead, she and Derek, 39, plan to make each second rely — irrespective of how massive or small. “We’re actually gonna be so current,” provides Hayley, “and respect life a lot extra.”
As they kick off their 38-city vacation tour, Derek Hough Dance for the Holidays, which runs from now till December 29, the couple sits down with Us to share the emotional particulars of Hayley’s well being scare, her courageous restoration and why dealing with the most important problem of their lives throughout their first 12 months of marriage finally introduced them nearer collectively.
It’s been lower than a 12 months because the medical scare occurred. Have been you able to go on tour once more?
HEH: I really imagine dance is so therapeutic. So I like going out on the highway, however I particularly [want] to thank everyone for his or her assist this whole 12 months, as a result of it’s been… It’s been a wild journey.
DH: I’m extra nervous! Even earlier than all this, I bought nicknamed “Grandpa Hough” as a result of I’m a little bit little bit of a worrier.
HEH: I hearken to my physique, and I additionally hearken to the docs, however they’ve all stated, [I’m] good to go; so I’m excited for it.
Going again to the day it occurred. Did you may have any signs?
HEH: There weren’t any indicators. I used to be actually drained, however we’d simply been on a red-eye flight from the [season 32] Dancing With the Stars finale. I napped a bit, however nothing was alarming.
When did you begin to really feel like issues have been off?
HEH: It was in the midst of the second act; I simply bought an excruciating headache. I used to be like, it’s OK, I’ll take care of it after the present. And I pushed myself till my physique was like, nope, you may’t do that anymore.
Jesse Grant/Getty Photos for Disney Replace 1/9/24/10:45 a.m. ET Hayley Erbert is celebrating her husband Derek Hough’s profession success one month after present process emergency surgical procedure for a cranial hematoma. “Congratulations to the love of my life for his 4th Emmy win! (Swipe to see him trying so good-looking along with his new, stunning {hardware} 😍),” Erbert […]
Are you able to keep in mind something from these moments?
HEH: I remembered this particular quantity [and] doing this dance. Derek was like, “No, you probably did two after that, too.”
DH: Yeah, it’s unbelievable. I used to be like, “You danced two full dances after that and didn’t miss a step.”
HEH: I should have simply been on autopilot. The muscle reminiscence should have been so insane that my physique continued though I wasn’t there.
Derek, when did you notice one thing was flawed?
DH: Ultimately a stage supervisor got here on and instructed me that Hayley [wouldn’t] be approaching, however they didn’t inform me why. So I simply form of vamped a little bit bit, and we went into the ultimate quantity. After which I ran to seek out her. I simply knew that one thing was off due to the agony she was in. Then, she began speaking kind of gibberish and saying issues in regards to the evening earlier than. Certainly one of her eyes was dilated, the opposite one was pinpoint. I knew one thing was very flawed.
What occurred within the hospital?
DH: [I didn’t know] the severity till after the CT scan. I simply fell to my knees. It was exhausting. [Derek fights back tears.] I keep in mind being within the room together with her alone. She was kind of unconscious, and her respiration grew to become virtually nonexistent. That’s one of many issues that occurs as a result of when the mind swells up, there’s nowhere for it to go besides down the spinal wire. And that’s the place the respiration occurs. I keep in mind operating out and telling the docs to come back in. Ultimately, they needed to put a tube down her throat.
That should have been so much for you.
DH: You go from these loopy highs, being on the DWTS finale and all this celebration and amazingness. After which we go on stage in entrance of 4,000 individuals and loving what we’re doing. After which being within the hospital and frantic and simply adrenaline and feelings and worry. [Derek pauses, fighting back tears.] In any case that hecticness from the previous two days, I keep in mind going to a resort room and simply closing behind me and being on this quiet, empty room. After which, it simply hits you. [Hayley rubs Derek’s back to comfort him.] It was loopy.
How did you handle to remain robust?
DH: Truthfully, her. It was Hayley. I keep in mind calling [my sister] Julianne [Hough] as a result of I used to be hysterical, and she or he form of calmed me down, and she or he goes, “You want to speak to her.” [Derek fights back tears as his voice gets shaky.] She stated, “Placed on one thing that’s soothing and exquisite and simply speak to her whereas she’s in surgical procedure.” And that was the one second I felt a way of management. I used to be like, “OK, I’m right here with you.”
Hayley, trying again, how have been you capable of get by way of all of this?
HEH: I imply, clearly having him by my facet, and our household and our mates. I keep in mind Derek stated [to me], “Honey, there are such a lot of individuals fascinated with you. There’s so many individuals sending you’re keen on and prayers.” And that was truly the primary time that I began crying. I keep in mind simply bawling my eyes out and saying, “You didn’t even have to inform me that. I can really feel it.” I felt this sense of overwhelming love and lightweight; it was one of the religious experiences I’ve ever had. It was stunning, and I imagine that’s actually what carried me by way of.
Derek Hough and his spouse, Hayley Erbert, are giving followers a life replace after her terrifying well being scare. “It has been fairly the journey. There was a lot that has occurred in two months, a number of feelings,” Erbert, 29, shared in a joint Instagram video with Hough, 38, on Monday, February 5. Hough echoed […]
Inform Us about your surgical procedures.
HEH: I had two in whole. The primary one was to take away my cranium to cauterize the bleeding and permit my mind some area to heal. It swells first, so that they wanted to take away my cranium. Then [once it came] down, we… put within the implant. They weren’t capable of save my precise cranium, so I’ve an implant inside my head.
DH: They ended up eradicating about 40 % of her cranium. So principally, virtually her total proper facet.
You have been intubated after your surgical procedure. What’s the very first thing you keep in mind after waking up?
HEH: All my household was down on the backside of the mattress. My dad and mom are divorced, and I noticed each of them and I used to be like, “What is going on proper now?” I used to be very confused! Derek was the primary person who was like, “You simply had an enormous surgical procedure. They usually eliminated half of your cranium.” He was [also] the primary individual to inform me that they needed to shave my head. And humorous sufficient, I did simply get a haircut by one in all my mates, and I used to be like, “[I] simply reduce my hair like that!”
DH: There was like this gasp of simply reduction. Like, she’s OK. It’s her.
Did you may have a whole lot of these moments?
DH: Hayley was the one who saved us robust. It was so devastating, however she saved making these strides… Oh, she’s making jokes! Oh, she’s being sassy! After which, oh, she’s gonna arise! It grew to become like these moments of simply pure pleasure. Even the smallest little issues, like stepping over a tissue field, [were] like [a] sense of simply pleasure.
Hayley, how was that point for you?
HEH: I used to be just about in pure survival mode. I knew I needed to be again to regular. I used to be like, that is my solely choice. However then, much more importantly, I needed to bop once more. Dance is my life. It at all times has been. I’ve been dancing since I used to be 3 years outdated, and it’s what has introduced me a lot pleasure and love. It actually introduced me my husband. I used to be like, I’ve to bop once more.
Who was your assist system?
HEH: Three of my greatest mates flew in, each of my dad and mom, his dad, clearly Julianne. Even within the restoration course of, it was by no means simply the 2 of us.
DH: Julianne actually stepped as much as assist discover us a spot to reside. We have been planning on residing [in D.C.] for 3 to 4 months as a result of that’s how lengthy [her] procedures have been going to take. Hayley’s mother was [also] superb displaying up.
Hayley, how are you feeling at this time? Are you totally recovered?
HEH: I at all times say I really feel like I’m 98 to 99 % again to what I used to be. There’s some issues right here and there, however minor issues. Nothing that may hinder me from simply doing what I do in on a regular basis life and my profession. It actually is a miracle. And I’m so grateful to have the ability to do what I like nonetheless.
DH: There was a time that we went and carried out for [her] docs in individual. They usually go, “It was a present for us to see this as a result of we don’t actually see many [of] these completely satisfied endings [in] this extreme of a state of affairs.” And [one] physician was like, “It’s a miracle.” And I used to be like, “Oh, yeah, it’s.” And he grabbed me and stated, “No, Derek, this can be a miracle… for what she had. Like, you don’t perceive.”
You returned to the Symphony of Dance Tour with Derek in April — simply 4 months after your well being scare. What was that like?
HEH: It was a sense that I’ve actually by no means felt on stage earlier than. There aren’t even phrases for it. It was unbelievable.
DH: When she walked out on stage for the primary time…. man. She walked out on this stunning pink costume, and she or he simply form of like, seems. That was at all times within the present, [but it] occurred to suit completely with what had simply occurred, too. The response was simply overwhelming.
Derek Hough’s spouse, Hayley Erbert, has hit a “vital milestone” in her restoration after her emergency craniectomy. “With immense reduction, gratitude and overwhelming pleasure I’d wish to share that Hayley’s cranioplasty surgical procedure has been efficiently accomplished as deliberate,” Hough, 38, revealed through Instagram on Thursday, December 21. He shared the information alongside an image of […]
Was there ever a time you feared you won’t dance collectively once more?
HEH: I’m a really cussed individual, so I used to be like, I’ll get again out on that stage. However after all, there’s at all times worry [and] doubts that creep in. For a couple of months, I couldn’t be bodily in any respect, so it was only a matter of me envisioning it each single day, being like, “I will likely be on the market.”
DH: When it initially occurred, the very last thing I may take into consideration was ever dancing once more. So, it was like such a therapeutic course of even to listen to her need. It helped me be like, OK, perhaps we are able to dance once more, and perhaps dancing might be therapeutic. There’s so many alternative layers to it, you realize?
That sounds very emotional.
DH: I keep in mind seeing my good friend who’s a filmmaker. I stated, “I feel we’re going to start out attempting to see if we are able to dance and go within the studio.” And he goes, “Can I come movie that?” So he began filming us rehearse a bit, and he saved coming again. Then Hayley was like, “I need to do the tour.” He ended up filming the entire course of — getting again out on the highway to the rehearsals, being on stage, footage from backstage, all of the ups and downs. We now have this stunning piece that’s actually particular we are able to look again on.
Sounds prefer it may very well be a documentary.
DH: That’s the hope. We’re form of ending that up.
How did you handle to remain so optimistic by way of all of this?
HEH: I’m a agency believer that all the pieces occurs for a motive — which I nonetheless don’t even know if I do know what the rationale was. [Laughs.] But it surely occurred and there’s a higher lesson in all of it. You simply have to determine what that lesson is. I’m nonetheless figuring that out!
Has this modified the way you two strategy life?
HEH: Completely. I imply, even simply little moments. This 12 months we’ve gone on some unbelievable journeys as a result of we’ve at all times needed to. Like, why wait? We’re by no means assured tomorrow. It actually places all the pieces into perspective whenever you undergo one thing like that.
DH: One of many issues that we realized from this expertise was — which Hayley was simply an incredible instance of — [is] discovering the sweetness in little issues. You hear that so much, to be grateful and deal with what’s good. However to truly see her reside that [way] was actually, actually inspiring. It was that kind of [thing] the place the extra grace you acknowledge, the extra grace you’ll expertise.
You married in August 2023, lower than 4 months earlier than this occurred. How did it change your relationship?
HEH: It actually did strengthen us. He was my caretaker. He’d stand up each evening to placed on my helmet and stroll me to the toilet. It was unbelievable to observe him step into that function. It simply made me love him and respect him much more.
DH: We’ve been put to the check — actual fast. But additionally, everyone’s going by way of so many various kinds of issues. Generally, they don’t have these completely satisfied endings we’re so blessed to have. So there’s a way of gratitude, but in addition a way of compassion.
What’s subsequent for you?
HEH: We now have a lot extra life to reside. Do we’ve got something huge deliberate other than this tour? No, however it’s form of the great thing about it.
DH: It’s a giant present and we’re enthusiastic about that. However I feel we’re additionally enthusiastic about subsequent 12 months, simply planning new adventures and new issues.
Inform Us extra about Dance for the Holidays.
DH: That is like probably the most intricate choreography we’ve executed. The dancers are so proficient. The music is implausible. We’re capable of reimagine…some classics, like a Grinch Argentine tango or a salsa Winter Wonderland. The costumes are superb. Haley actually performed a giant half making issues look implausible.
HEH: That’s my favourite half. It’s the cherry on high of all the pieces.
DH: It actually has all of it. I imply, we’ve got our good friend Michael Bublé doing a little bit of narration as effectively.
You’ll be stopping by Salt Lake Metropolis. Derek, what’s it like performing in your hometown?
DH: It’s superb. And you realize, dance is so massive in Utah. It’s a type of locations that appreciates dance at a special stage. I imply, 80 % of the DWTS forged is from Utah!
HEH: One thing actually particular about this tour is that in each metropolis, we’ve invited an area studio to come back dance with us. [And] in Salt Lake Metropolis, one of many nights, the studio that [Derek] grew up going to is definitely going to carry out on stage. That’s gonna be so enjoyable.
You’re additionally returning to the identical stage the place Hayley fell ailing. How are you each feeling about that?
HEH: In fact, it’s going to be an emotional time for me, and for him. [But] I’m not likely pressured. It’s going to be stunning to be on the market and be like, that is precisely the place it occurred.
DH: Truthfully, I’m trying ahead to it. I feel it is going to be a second of therapeutic and closure — and a second of triumph.
For extra on Derek and Hayley, watch the unique video above and decide up the newest difficulty of Us Weekly — on newsstands now.