As Hayley Erbert prepares to welcome a life into the world, she’s remembering the time she was fighting for her own.
The professional dancer—who is expecting her first baby with Derek Hough—marked the second anniversary of the emergency brain surgery she underwent to treat a cranial hematoma in December 2023.
“Two years ago today, I was given a second chance at life through life-saving brain surgery,” Hayley wrote on her Instagram on Dec. 6, alongside photos of herself cradling her bump. “In these two years, I’ve gone through every human emotion imaginable, the kind that cracks you open and the kind that puts you back together.”
The 31-year-old continued, “I’ve reclaimed parts of myself I thought I’d never find again, rediscovered who I am, and moved through seasons of loss, triumph, joy, endless fear, grief, healing, and quiet hope. It was a whirlwind to say the least.. But I’m truly grateful for it all, and so incredibly proud of myself and my body for everything it has endured.”