Bruce Willis’ wife, Emma Hemming Willis, has shared the touching way their children are coping with his dementia diagnosis.
The family of the Die Hard star announced in 2023 that he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) after he retired from acting the previous year.
FTD is a rare form of dementia that primarily affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, which are responsible for behavior, personality, and language.
There are currently around 55 million people worldwide living with dementia, which remains an incurable condition.
In an interview with ABC News, Emma disclosed that Willis moved into a second home separated from their children, Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11.
Although the 47-year-old described it as one of the family’s most challenging decisions, she feels it was the correct choice.
Emma also recently spoke with Vogue Australia about how their children are handling their father’s health decline.
“I think they’re doing well, all things considered, but it’s hard,” she mentioned. “They grieve, they miss their dad so much. He’s missing important milestones, that’s tough for them – but kids are resilient, [although] I used to hate hearing that because people didn’t understand what we were walking through.”
Emma added, “I don’t know if my kids will ever bounce back, but they’re learning and so am I.”
While the children are facing difficulties, Emma herself has endured significant emotional challenges in recent years due to her husband’s diagnosis.
She expressed, “I’ve had to learn to walk alongside the grief. It’s always with me. I can’t shake it, but I’m going to breathe, and I’m going to be sad and all the feelings and emotions that I’m going to feel, but I am also not going to just allow it to be this one note of that.”
Due to the progression of his condition, Willis now resides in a single-story home with a full-time care team, away from his family.
“When we go over, either we’re outside, or we’re watching a movie…it’s just really about being able to be there, and connect with Bruce,” Emma shared with ABC News.
“It is a house that is filled with love, and warmth, and care, and laughter. And it’s been beautiful to see that, to see how many of Bruce’s friends continue to show up for him, and they bring in life, and fun.”
Emma has been providing regular updates on her husband’s health in recent years.