Hayley Erbert Reflects on Her Year Filled with 'Struggle and Heartbreak' but 'So Much Growth' After Emergency Surgery

Mar. 15, 2025

Hayley Erbert Hough and Derek Hough at the “Inside Out 2” premiere at the El Capitan Theatre on June 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.Photo:Variety via Getty

Variety via Getty

Hayley Erbert Houghis reflecting on the ups and downs of the last year sinceher medical emergency in December 2023.The professional dancer, 30, shared onInstagramthat she has “so many mixed emotions and feelings about this entire year” followingher emergency surgeryfor a cranial hematoma.“I have never experienced more struggle and heartbreak in my life while simultaneously feeling so much growth, love, and purpose,” she wrote alongside a montage of moments from the year. “This year was far from easy, but it was so necessary.”She continued: “Grateful for every moment; the hard ones, the beautiful ones, and everything in between. Here’s to carrying these lessons into the next chapter. ♥️”The post featured a video — set to Coldplay’s “Fix You” — with moments from her life, including hertriumphant return to the stagealongside husbandDerek Hough, the pair sharing a sweet kiss and the highs and lows of her recovery journey.The comment section was filled with support for Hayley.“What a year my beautiful family - grateful to be on this journey of life with you two ❤️” sister-in-lawJulianne Houghshared.“Wow what a year of love, heartache , healing and growth. Love you both ❤️” Derek’s formerDancing with the StarspartnerAmy Purdywrote andNina Dobrevadded, “What a year 🥹🤍🥲”Derek Hough (L) and Hayley Erbert Hough perform during a stop of Derek Hough’s Dance for the Holidays tour at BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas on Dec. 20, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.Ethan Miller/GettyThe post comes less than a month after Hayley and Derekreturned to the Washington D.C. venuewhere Hayley was rushed to the hospital following their show. She was diagnosed with a cranial hematoma from a burst blood vessel and underwent an emergency craniectomy, which Derek revealed in a social mediapostat the time.“It’s been exactly one year since Hayley almost lost her life,” Derek, 39, shared alongside a video of the pair onstage. “We returned to the very same stage, the same room where we once felt so much fear and uncertainty. A place where I stood frozen, terrified, praying for a miracle.“In the video, he explained how returning to the same stage allowed the couple to “change the story…to something beautiful,” before he invited Dr. Mai — who he said “saved Hayley’s life” — to join them on stage.From left: Hayley Erbert and Derek Hough on ‘Dancing with the Stars’.Disney/Eric McCandlessNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“We changed the story of that room. We transformed it, from fear to beauty, from uncertainty to faith, and from despair to triumph,” Derek wrote in the caption.He credited his wife — who hemarriedjust four months before her emergency surgery — for her “resilience, strength courage and pure elegance in how she has moved through this experience” as he wrote, “I am in awe everyday.““One year later, standing on that same stage, we know this: life is fragile, love is everything, and we are stronger than ever,” he concluded.

Hayley Erbert Houghis reflecting on the ups and downs of the last year sinceher medical emergency in December 2023.

The professional dancer, 30, shared onInstagramthat she has “so many mixed emotions and feelings about this entire year” followingher emergency surgeryfor a cranial hematoma.

“I have never experienced more struggle and heartbreak in my life while simultaneously feeling so much growth, love, and purpose,” she wrote alongside a montage of moments from the year. “This year was far from easy, but it was so necessary.”

She continued: “Grateful for every moment; the hard ones, the beautiful ones, and everything in between. Here’s to carrying these lessons into the next chapter. ♥️”

The post featured a video — set to Coldplay’s “Fix You” — with moments from her life, including hertriumphant return to the stagealongside husbandDerek Hough, the pair sharing a sweet kiss and the highs and lows of her recovery journey.

The comment section was filled with support for Hayley.

“What a year my beautiful family - grateful to be on this journey of life with you two ❤️” sister-in-lawJulianne Houghshared.

“Wow what a year of love, heartache , healing and growth. Love you both ❤️” Derek’s formerDancing with the StarspartnerAmy Purdywrote andNina Dobrevadded, “What a year 🥹🤍🥲”

Derek Hough (L) and Hayley Erbert Hough perform during a stop of Derek Hough’s Dance for the Holidays tour at BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas on Dec. 20, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.Ethan Miller/Getty

Ethan Miller/Getty

The post comes less than a month after Hayley and Derekreturned to the Washington D.C. venuewhere Hayley was rushed to the hospital following their show. She was diagnosed with a cranial hematoma from a burst blood vessel and underwent an emergency craniectomy, which Derek revealed in a social mediapostat the time.

“It’s been exactly one year since Hayley almost lost her life,” Derek, 39, shared alongside a video of the pair onstage. “We returned to the very same stage, the same room where we once felt so much fear and uncertainty. A place where I stood frozen, terrified, praying for a miracle.”

In the video, he explained how returning to the same stage allowed the couple to “change the story…to something beautiful,” before he invited Dr. Mai — who he said “saved Hayley’s life” — to join them on stage.

From left: Hayley Erbert and Derek Hough on ‘Dancing with the Stars’.Disney/Eric McCandless

Disney/Eric McCandless

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

“We changed the story of that room. We transformed it, from fear to beauty, from uncertainty to faith, and from despair to triumph,” Derek wrote in the caption.

He credited his wife — who hemarriedjust four months before her emergency surgery — for her “resilience, strength courage and pure elegance in how she has moved through this experience” as he wrote, “I am in awe everyday.”

“One year later, standing on that same stage, we know this: life is fragile, love is everything, and we are stronger than ever,” he concluded.

source: people.com