Bruce Willis’ Ongoing Battle with Dementia
Emma Heming Willis has opened up about her husband Bruce Willis’ struggles with dementia, revealing that he has moved into a new residence to receive round-the-clock care.
The renowned 70-year-old actor, famous for his roles in iconic films such as Die Hard, Pulp Fiction, and The Sixth Sense, saw his illustrious career cut short in 2023 when his family announced his diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). According to the Mayo Clinic, FTD is an umbrella term for various brain diseases that predominantly affect the frontal and temporal regions, impacting personality, behavior, and language.
Initial Signs and Diagnosis
During an ABC News special with Diane Sawyer, Heming Willis described how she first sensed something was amiss with her husband before his official diagnosis. She recalled that he had always enjoyed taking their daughters to school, but those moments began to decrease significantly. “I just thought, ‘God, that is so weird because for someone who was very talkative and very engaged, he was just a little more quiet,’” she shared.
She reminisced about family gatherings where Bruce seemed to “melt a little bit,” highlighting her confusion over the changes in his behavior. Initially, Heming Willis noted she questioned the status of their marriage at a time when it felt different, saying, “it doesn’t feel like a marriage anymore.” The couple met in 2005, but it took two years for her to agree to a date. They married in 2009 in Turks and Caicos and have two daughters, aged 11 and 13. Bruce also has three daughters from his previous marriage to Demi Moore.
While initially diagnosed with aphasia, which impairs word retrieval, Bruce’s condition worsened, leading to the definitive diagnosis of FTD.
Communication with Their Daughters
Heming Willis quickly informed their daughters about their father’s diagnosis, emphasizing the importance of making it clear he was still engaged with them. “I never wanted them to think that he wasn’t paying attention to them,” she stated.
Current Health Status
Regarding Bruce’s current health, Heming Willis noted that he remains physically active and appears unaware of his condition. “Bruce is still very mobile. Bruce is in really great health overall, you know, it’s just his brain that is failing him,” she explained. She expressed her belief that he recognizes her and their family when they are together. “I know he does. When we are with him, he lights up,” she shared. “He’s holding our hands, we’re kissing him, we’re hugging him, [and] he is reciprocating, you know, he is into it. And so that’s all I need.”
The Difficult Decision
Heming Willis later revealed the tough choice to transition Bruce to a “second home” nearby that would provide a safer environment and 24-hour care. “It was one of the hardest decisions that I’ve had to make so far,” she admitted. “But I knew first and foremost, Bruce would want that for our daughters, you know, he wouldn’t want them to be in a home that was more tailored to their needs, not his needs.” She assured that they spend ample time at the new residence, describing it as “a house that is filled with love and warmth and care and laughter.”
Advocacy and Upcoming Book
Heming Willis is sharing her experiences of navigating Bruce’s dementia diagnosis and its effects on their family in her forthcoming book, titled The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path, scheduled for release on September 7. In addition to her personal story, she has become an advocate for caregivers, calling for more support for families dealing with conditions like dementia. “It doesn’t matter where we came from, who we’re married to, that level of sadness and grief and anger and the resentment and all of this, it is one common thread that we all share,” she stated. “And I think that there is something so beautiful in that.”
