Derek Hough is reflecting on 2023 as the “challenging” year comes to a close.
The “Dancing With the Stars” pro-turned-judge took to his Instagram Sunday to share a reel documenting snippets from the past 12 months with his wife, Hayley Erbert, whom he married in August.
Just four months later, she underwent two life-saving brain surgeries and is still on the long road to complete recovery.
“In the face of uncertainty, this year has been a canvas of reflection, painted with the colors of life’s challenges and joys,” Hough, 38, captioned the mesmerizing video.
“From creative passion projects to the unforgettable celebration of love at our Jack and Jill bash. Embarking on a national tour, a whirlwind of planning, creating, and performing for thousands.”
The dancer-choreographer went on, “An honored role judging ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ and a highlight paying homage to the legendary Len Goodman. Choreography awards and recognitions.”
Hough also took a moment to highlight the “pinnacle” of the year, which was getting to commit his love to Erbert, 29, “in a breathtaking fairytale wedding, followed by an enchanting honeymoon in Italy.”
“These experiences are treasures of gratitude, reminding us of life’s splendor and its fleeting nature,” he concluded his thought-provoking message. “Each day of our extraordinary journey teaches us to cherish every fleeting moment.”
Earlier this month, the couple had just finished their Symphony of Dance show in Washington, D.C., when Erbert “became disoriented and was taken to the hospital.”
“She was diagnosed with a cranial hematoma from a burst blood vessel and required an emergency craniectomy,” Hough told his followers the next day.
According to the Mayo Clinic, an intracranial hematoma is a collection of blood within the brain tissue or underneath the skull, which then presses on the brain.
It’s usually caused by a blood vessel in the brain that bursts, typically as a result of some sort of head trauma.
Per the University of Rochester Medical Medical Center, a craniectomy is a neurosurgical procedure that involves removing a portion of the skull in order to relieve pressure on the brain.
Though Hough did not say whether Erbert had recently fallen or gotten hit, the pair did get “into a pretty scary car accident in the mountains” last December.
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At the time, the brunette beauty said she walked away from the crash “a little banged up” with “a swollen face and four stitches above [her] eyebrow.”
Two weeks after her first brain surgery, Hough revealed that Erbert had to undergo a second operation “to replace a large portion of her skull that was removed during her craniectomy.”
Both procedures were “successfully completed as planned,” and the duo have each expressed their gratitude online.
“Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas! 🎄,” Erbert wrote alongside an Instagram post last weekend that showed her wearing a head bandage while kissing her doting husband in front of their Christmas tree.
“Cherishing the greatest gift of all. The precious gift of life and the love we share,” she added. “Hold your loved ones close and treasure every moment.”
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