Julianne Hough on Family Crisis: How Derek’s Wife’s Surgery Strengthened Bonds
Julianne Hough Reflects on Strengthened Relationship with Brother Derek After Wife Hayley’s Medical Emergency
Julianne Hough has candidly opened up about how a family medical emergency has reshaped her relationship with her brother Derek Hough. In December 2023, Derek’s wife, Hayley Erbert, 29, faced a life-threatening medical crisis that required emergency brain surgery. The ordeal has since brought the siblings closer, as Julianne, 36, revealed in a recent interview with People magazine.
The former “Dancing with the Stars” (DWTS) alum described how the crisis served as a catalyst for healing and reconnection. “Something happens and it just is like a clean slate,” she shared. “Especially with what just happened with Derek and Hayley, there could have been little things just kind of looming or lingering in the background, but when you’re left with life-or-death situations, nothing else matters.”
Erbert, who married Derek in August 2023 after eight years of dating, was hospitalized last December following a disorienting episode at the end of a performance. The “So You Think You Can Dance” alum was diagnosed with a cranial hematoma caused by a burst blood vessel, necessitating immediate emergency brain surgery.
“She underwent two brain surgeries for the cranial hematoma,” Julianne detailed. “The first was to address the burst blood vessel, and the second was to insert a skull implant to restore the skull to its natural shape and protect the brain from further injury.”
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. Such conditions can be life-threatening and require prompt medical intervention.
Derek, 39, described his wife’s recovery as “nothing short of a miracle.” Julianne echoed this sentiment, acknowledging that the gravity of Hayley’s condition put any trivial disagreements into perspective. “Whatever little things of competition there are or whatever it might be, those things just go away,” she added.
Reflecting on her family dynamics, Julianne admitted that she has experienced her share of ups and downs with her relatives. “I am so blessed to have the family that I have, even when we’re not all on the same page, when we don’t sometimes have the same beliefs or understandings of things,” the “Footloose” star shared. “The thing that hurts the most is when we’re not connected.”
Julianne explained that, like many families, they sometimes have to distance themselves to protect their own well-being. “And so sometimes you do the thing that hurts the most, which is remove yourself because you’re trying to protect yourself. So our family is like any other family. We have our situations and our s–t, but our deepest desire is to connect. And I think we all really have a strong desire to make that happen.”
The Hough siblings have long been in the public eye, both gaining notoriety through their appearances on “DWTS.” Julianne’s reflections highlight the importance of family unity, especially during challenging times.
Julianne has also been a pillar of support for her sister, Catherine, who lost a partner to glioblastoma two years ago. She shared that such tough times offer a powerful perspective on what truly matters. “When something tragic happens or something really hard or something where somebody needs you … It makes you realize that as humans, as people on this planet, we really do care so much,” she explained.
The dancer emphasized that these experiences have shown her the intrinsic goodness in humanity. “Just in general in life, when things happen, people want to come together,” she concluded. “And I think that we’re so inundated with people fighting against each other that we have to remember that I think the goodness in humanity is that we do want to show up for each other.”
Julianne’s reflections are a poignant reminder of the importance of family and the healing power of unity in the face of adversity. As the Hough family continues to navigate life’s challenges, their story serves as an inspiration for others to cherish and support their loved ones, no matter the circumstances.
Source : https://pagesix.com/2024/08/06/entertainment/julianne-hough-brother-derek-got-a-clean-slate-after-his-wife-hayleys-brain-surgeries/