Derek Hough Reveals the Mantra That Got Him and Wife Hayley Erbert Through Her Health Scare (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Derek Houghand wifeHayley Erbertapproached life differently after heremergency craniectomy.In a new conversation with PEOPLE in 10, theDancing with the Starsjudge, 39, explains how he and Erbert, 29, were able to mutually heal after she underwent emergency surgery in December 2023 after being hospitalized with a cranial hematoma.Hough confesses that “it’s really hard” to watch a loved one heal, but he approached it with one specific mantra and practice, revealing how they were “really trying to stay in the moment, staying present.”“That’s so much easier said than done, and it just sounds like such a phrase,” he says, noting that “it’s one of the things that [he] really learned from Hayley during that time" and it’s something “that she helped [him] with."“Honestly, she was just in the moment, you know, she wasn’t focusing on, like, what’s gonna happen, what’s the future,” he explains. “It was just about, ‘What can I do right now that’s going to help them, or even help myself,’ and just staying present.”Hayley Erbert and Derek Hough.Kayla Oaddams/GettyHough remarks that while watching someone heal, there’s “the worry and the fear comes from worrying about what’s what’s to come, what’s going to happen.““That’s where a lot of the fear happens,” he continues. “So I think that staying sort of in the moment, which is not easy to do.“The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!The professional dancer also shares some other helpful tips he learned to get through difficult situations, including “listen to things that are going to help you, get you in the right state of mind to put yourself in the right state that’s going to help that person heal, help you heal.”Hayley Erbert and Derek Hough arrive for the Mercedes-Benz Academy Awards viewing party on March 27, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.Timothy Norris/FilmMagicLast year, on Dec. 7, 2023, Hough revealed onInstagramthat Erbert had been rushed to the hospital after experiencing symptoms of a cranial hematoma — when blood collects in the skull — while on their Symphony of Dance tour.A week later, hepostedanother updatesaying his wife needed a skull implant to “replace the piece [of the skull] that was removed during the craniectomy.”After Erbert’s surgery, the couple shared anemotional videoonInstagramfollowing the surgery in which they discussed Erbert’s “miraculous” recovery and thanked everyone who sent words of support amid her recuperation.Hayley Erbert and Derek Hough on June 8, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.Christopher Polk/Variety via GettySince recovering from her surgery, Erbert and Hough celebratedtheir first wedding anniversary, sharinga joint Instagramon Monday, Aug. 26. More recently, on Wednesday, Sept. 25, Hough toldE! Newsthat he and Erbert “definitely want to have a family eventually.”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’ll see what’s in the cards, what’s on the horizon. Little dancing children running around,” he said.“She’s a miracle,” the proud husband added of Erbert. “She really is, and I don’t say that lightly.”

Derek Houghand wifeHayley Erbertapproached life differently after heremergency craniectomy.

In a new conversation with PEOPLE in 10, theDancing with the Starsjudge, 39, explains how he and Erbert, 29, were able to mutually heal after she underwent emergency surgery in December 2023 after being hospitalized with a cranial hematoma.

Hough confesses that “it’s really hard” to watch a loved one heal, but he approached it with one specific mantra and practice, revealing how they were “really trying to stay in the moment, staying present.”

“That’s so much easier said than done, and it just sounds like such a phrase,” he says, noting that “it’s one of the things that [he] really learned from Hayley during that time” and it’s something “that she helped [him] with.”

“Honestly, she was just in the moment, you know, she wasn’t focusing on, like, what’s gonna happen, what’s the future,” he explains. “It was just about, ‘What can I do right now that’s going to help them, or even help myself,’ and just staying present.”

Hayley Erbert and Derek Hough.Kayla Oaddams/Getty

Kayla Oaddams/Getty

Hough remarks that while watching someone heal, there’s “the worry and the fear comes from worrying about what’s what’s to come, what’s going to happen.”

“That’s where a lot of the fear happens,” he continues. “So I think that staying sort of in the moment, which is not easy to do.”

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

The professional dancer also shares some other helpful tips he learned to get through difficult situations, including “listen to things that are going to help you, get you in the right state of mind to put yourself in the right state that’s going to help that person heal, help you heal.”

Hayley Erbert and Derek Hough arrive for the Mercedes-Benz Academy Awards viewing party on March 27, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.Timothy Norris/FilmMagic

Timothy Norris/FilmMagic

Last year, on Dec. 7, 2023, Hough revealed onInstagramthat Erbert had been rushed to the hospital after experiencing symptoms of a cranial hematoma — when blood collects in the skull — while on their Symphony of Dance tour.

A week later, hepostedanother updatesaying his wife needed a skull implant to “replace the piece [of the skull] that was removed during the craniectomy.”

After Erbert’s surgery, the couple shared anemotional videoonInstagramfollowing the surgery in which they discussed Erbert’s “miraculous” recovery and thanked everyone who sent words of support amid her recuperation.

Hayley Erbert and Derek Hough on June 8, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty

Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty

Since recovering from her surgery, Erbert and Hough celebratedtheir first wedding anniversary, sharinga joint Instagramon Monday, Aug. 26. More recently, on Wednesday, Sept. 25, Hough toldE! Newsthat he and Erbert “definitely want to have a family eventually.”

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’ll see what’s in the cards, what’s on the horizon. Little dancing children running around," he said.

“She’s a miracle," the proud husband added of Erbert. “She really is, and I don’t say that lightly.”

source: people.com