The wife of the legendary That hard star Bruce Willis couldn’t help but get emotional as she gave fans a sad update about his battle with dementia on Monday morning.
Bruce Willis’ wife, Emma, shares a heartbreaking update on her husband’s dementia diagnosis pic.twitter.com/h2oTj28bhe
— Daily Star (@dailystar) September 24, 2023
‘Dementia is difficult’
Emma Heming Willis, 45, announced in February that Bruce, 68, had been diagnosed frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a rare form of dementia. While appearing on the ‘Today’ show, Emma opened up about the ‘sadness and sadness’ she feels watching her husband succumb to the disease.
“What I’m learning is that dementia is difficult,” Emma said, according to Daily Mail. “It’s hard for the person diagnosed. It is also difficult for the family. And that’s no different for Bruce or myself or our girls. And when they say this is a family disease, it really is.”
Emma and Bruce are parents to daughters Mabel, 11, and Evelyn, 8. When asked how she explains Bruce’s illness to their children, Emma said: “I think it’s always been that way… we’re a very honest and open household.”
“And the most important thing was that we could say what the disease was, and explain what it is, because when you know what the disease is from a medical point of view, it all makes sense,” she continued. “So it was important that we let them know what it is because I don’t want there to be any stigma or shame attached to their father’s diagnosis, or any form of dementia for that matter.”
When asked if Bruce is aware he has dementia, Emma paused before admitting it’s “hard to know.”
Bruce Willis’ wife says ‘hard to know’ how aware he is of dementia diagnosis Bruce Willis’ wife, Emma Heming, has just revealed how serious her husband’s condition is when it comes to his dementia… and it sounds worse than what people might have realized. Emma went on ‘Today’ M… pic.twitter.com/3zItk5MeBD
— Let’s Talk About Dis Shidd (@MrsBarnesII) September 25, 2023
Related: Bruce Willis’ Wife Gives Sad Update About His Struggle With Dementia – ‘Not Good’
‘The Blessing and the Curse’
Despite how difficult it is to care for Bruce, Emma said receiving an official diagnosis made things “easier.”
“I think it was the blessing and the curse. You know, to finally kind of understand what happened so that I can accept what is,” she said. “It doesn’t make it any less painful, but just accepting it and knowing what’s happening to Bruce just makes it a little bit easier.”
“There are so many wonderful things happening in our lives,” she continued. “It’s just really important for me to look up from the grief and sadness so I can see what’s happening around us.”
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Emma believes Bruce is teaching his daughters many lessons when it comes to his battle with dementia.
“Honestly, he is the gift that keeps on giving. Love, patience, resilience, so much…” she said. “And he teaches me and our whole…I mean, you know, that I have to do this here, this is not my comfort zone, but this is Bruce’s strength.”
Emma prefers to call herself Bruce’s “care partner” rather than his “caregiver.”
“It’s so important to ask for help and support. And you can look at organizations like the AFTD, like Hilarity For Charity… it’s a good starting point,” she explained. “And it’s important that care partners take care of themselves so they can be the best care partner for the person they care for.”
Watch Emma’s full interview in the video below.
Exclusive: In Honor of World Frontotemporal Dementia Awareness Week, Bruce Willis’ Wife, Emma Heming Willis, Addresses @hodakotb about the condition in her first interview since his diagnosis.
“It was the blessing and the curse,” Emma said of Bruce’s diagnosis. pic.twitter.com/VY5yhVjZIf
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) September 25, 2023
Related: Bruce Willis receives devastating dementia diagnosis
Bruce retires from acting
Bruce quit acting last year, saying he did so because of an illness that caused his language skills to deteriorate, and his family announced in February that his condition had “worsened.”
“Our family wanted to start by expressing our deepest gratitude for the incredible outpouring of love, support and beautiful stories we have all received since sharing Bruce’s original diagnosis,” they said at the time. “In that spirit, we wanted to give you an update on our beloved husband, father and friend as we now have a better understanding of what he is experiencing.”
“Since we announced Bruce’s aphasia diagnosis in the spring of 2022, Bruce’s condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD),” the statement added. “Unfortunately, communication difficulties are just one symptom of the illness Bruce is facing. Although this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis.”
#BREAK Action hero Bruce Willis retires due to illness: family pic.twitter.com/EdnJ4QqpBp
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 30, 2022
This is clearly a very difficult time for Bruce and his entire family. Please join us in praying for them as he continues the fight against dementia.
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