Derek Hough Reveals the First Thing Wife Hayley Asked Doctors After Her Emergency Craniectomy 2 Years Ago (Exclusive)
- - Derek Hough Reveals the First Thing Wife Hayley Asked Doctors After Her Emergency Craniectomy 2 Years Ago (Exclusive)
Brianne TracyFebruary 2, 2026 at 8:30 PM
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Derek Hough is revealing one of the first things his wife Hayley Hough asked her doctors when she woke up from her emergency craniectomy two years ago
During her surgery, Hayley had 40 percent of her skull removed to relieve the pressure caused by a brain bleed from a burst blood vessel
Two years later, Derek and Hayley are now parents to a baby girl, Everley, whom they welcomed on Dec. 29
Derek Hough is reflecting on his wife Hayley Hough's recovery from her emergency craniectomy two years ago and their journey to parenthood.
In the couple's PEOPLE cover story, Derek, 40, reveals one of the first things Hayley, 31, asked her doctors when she got out of her surgery, during which she had 40 percent of her skull removed to relieve the pressure caused by a brain bleed from a burst blood vessel. (She later had a second surgery for a skull implant.)
"One of the first things Hayley said when she came to after her surgery — missing half of her skull, face swollen — was not, 'Am I going to be able to dance again?' It was, 'Am I able to have children in the future?'" Derek recalls. "The doctor was like, 'Yes, of course.' And here we are."
Hayley's dreams indeed came true on Dec. 29 when she and Derek welcomed their baby girl, Everley, in a planned home birth.
"We’ve had so many moments in life that are not as great,” Hayley says. “So she’s our rainbow after the storm.”
Derek and Hayley Hough with their newborn Everley
Ari & Louise
The Dancing with the Stars couple got married in 2023 after meeting nearly a decade prior when Hayley performed on Derek’s dance tour with his sister Julianne. In addition to Hayley's health crisis, they were also involved in a serious car accident together in 2022 and experienced a miscarriage in 2024.
"She’s been through so much,” Derek says of his wife, tears welling up in his eyes. “To see her go from where she was to now, giving birth, is amazing. My daughter has a great example here.”
Derek hough feeding wife Hayley after her surgery
Hayley Hough/Instagram
Hayley adds that their struggles have helped create "this foundation that is so strong."
“Derek describes it as like a tree — the roots are so deep into the ground that no wind could shake us," she says.
Derek Hough and his wife Hayley and new baby Everley photographed at home for PEOPLE on Jan. 13, 2026
Ari & Louise
Since Everley's arrival, Derek and Hayley have been blissfully sappy about this new period of joy.
"Literally every time I see Derek and Everley together, I just start crying," says Hayley, as Derek adds, "There are so many times where I’m just quietly looking at her and tearing up. I said this to my family: 'Hayley was meant for this.' She is such a natural mother."
As to whether they want more kids in the future, Derek says, "After this we’re like, 'All right babe, let’s go! Let’s go.'"
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
