Bruce Willis‘ dementia battle has his wife, Emma Heming, stepping into the role of caregiver and advocate for the disease. The former model isn’t shy about sharing updates about her husband while educating people about dementia. Among those she wants to educate are the couple’s two daughters, Mabel, 12, and Evelyn, 10.
Willis was first diagnosed with aphasia in 2022, a disease similar to dementia but not the disease itself. It wasn’t until a year later that the Die Hard star would officially be diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. Following the diagnosis, Heming began researching everything she could about the disease.
In a new interview with Town & Country, the entrepreneur discussed the importance of her research.
“This disease is misdiagnosed, it’s missed, it misunderstood, so finally getting a diagnosis was key so that I could learn what frontotemporal dementia is and I could educate our children,” she revealed.
With her daughters still young, broaching the topic of their father’s illness is tough, but Heming is honest with her children. “I’ve never tried to sugarcoat anything for them,” she explained. “They’ve grown up with Bruce declining over the years. I’m not trying to shield them from it.”
What I learned from our therapist was that if children ask questions, they’re ready to know the answer. If we could see that Bruce was struggling, I would address it with the kids so they could understand, but this disease is chronic, progressive, and terminal. There is no cure. Obviously, I don’t like to speak about the terminal side of this with them, nor have they asked. They know that Daddy’s not going to get better.
Emma Heming Has Support From Bruce Willis’ Older Daughters
Being a caregiver is a stressful job, but Heming has support from Willis’ ex-wife, Demi Moore, and the couple’s three daughters, Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah. Demi and the girls visit Bruce, Emma, Mabel, and Evelyn often and help whenever they can.
The family respects the way I’m looking after him; they really support me. If I need to vent, if I need to cry, if I need to rage – because all of that can happen and it’s okay to have those feelings – they are always there to listen. I’m so thankful that we are this blended family. They’re very supportive, very loving, and very helpful, and a lot of people don’t have that.
It’s been over a year since Willis’ diagnosis, and Heming is “much better” than when she first heard the news.
I’m not saying it’s any easier, but I’ve had to get used to what’s happening so that I can be grounded in what is, so that I can support our children. I’m trying to find that balance between the grief and the sadness that I feel, which can just crack open at any given moment, and finding a joy.
With FTD impacting her family, she’s now raising awareness for the disease and encouraging others to do the same.
I’m not going to allow FTD to take our whole family down. Bruce wouldn’t want that. They’re going to see me fight for our family, have some hope, and help the next family out there.
As Bruce Willis’ dementia battle progresses, it’s going to be more difficult for her. But Emma Heming is proving she’s just as tough as her husband.
