{"id":41142,"date":"2023-09-25T23:14:26","date_gmt":"2023-09-25T23:14:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/09\/25\/bruce-willis-wife-emma-heming-says-its-hard-to-know-if-hes-aware-of-condition\/"},"modified":"2023-09-25T23:14:26","modified_gmt":"2023-09-25T23:14:26","slug":"bruce-willis-wife-emma-heming-says-its-hard-to-know-if-hes-aware-of-condition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/09\/25\/bruce-willis-wife-emma-heming-says-its-hard-to-know-if-hes-aware-of-condition\/","title":{"rendered":"Bruce Willis\u2019 wife, Emma Heming, says it\u2019s “hard to know” if he\u2019s aware of condition"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Bruce Willis<\/a><\/strong>\u2018 wife, Emma Heming Willis<\/a><\/strong>, is sharing an update on her husband\u2019s life with frontotemporal dementia.<\/p>\n

In her first interview since the Die Hard<\/em> actor\u2019s dementia diagnosis, Emma opened up to Today<\/em><\/a> about the day-to-day challenges Bruce faces and how they\u2019re handling them as a family.<\/p>\n

\u201cDementia is hard,\u201d Willis told anchor Hoda Kotb. \u201cIt\u2019s hard on the person diagnosed, it\u2019s also hard on the family. And that is no different for Bruce, or myself, or our girls. When they say this is a family disease, it really is.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mother of two appeared on the morning show Monday to help kick off World Frontotemporal Dementia Awareness Week alongside the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration CEO, Susan Dickinson.<\/p>\n

Bruce Willis and Emma Heming arrive for music legend Tony Bennett\u2019s 90th birthday celebration at The Rainbow Room on August 3, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The full diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia, including aphasia, can bring communication challenges, including speaking and writing.<\/p>\n

Emma, who, along with Bruce\u2019s family, shared that the actor was stepping away from his career after being diagnosed with the condition earlier this year, said it\u2019s often \u201chard to know\u201d if the 68-year-old movie star is aware of what he\u2019s going through.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hard to know,\u201d she admitted before Dickinson shared some of the early signs to look for with this condition.<\/p>\n

Citing \u201cunexplained changes\u201d in the person\u2019s behavior, Dickinson said frontotemporal dementia is often misdiagnosed \u2014 even by doctors \u2014 as ALS, Parkinson\u2019s, and even certain mental health disorders like Bipolar disorder.<\/p>\n

Emma said the diagnosis has been a \u201cblessing and a curse,\u201d allowing her to understand better what her husband has been going through.<\/p>\n

\"Bruce
Bruce Willis and Emma Heming attend the \u201cGlass\u201d New York Premiere at SVA Theater on January 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI think it was the blessing and the curse. To sort of finally understand what was happening so I could be into the acceptance of what is,\u201d Emma said.<\/p>\n

Accepting what is has been painful, however, with the Make Time Wellness founder adding, \u201cIt doesn\u2019t make it any less painful, but just being in the acceptance and just being in the know of what is happening to Bruce makes it a little bit easier.\u201d<\/p>\n

Emma, who shares daughters Mabel, 11, and Evelyn, 9, with Bruce, said she\u2019s more of her husband\u2019s \u201ccare partner\u201d than a caregiver.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is my partner, so I am his care partner,\u201d Emma stated.<\/p>\n

As for how she\u2019s been able to navigate his diagnosis, Emma said it\u2019s not a solo mission.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think as a care partner, it\u2019s so important to be able to ask for help and support, and you can look to organizations like the AFTD, like Hilarity for Charity,\u201d she explained. \u201cAnd it\u2019s important for care partners to look after themselves, so that they can be the best care partner for the person that they\u2019re caring for.\u201d<\/p>\n

See Also<\/span><\/p>\n
\"Kevin<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Amid Bruce\u2019s diagnosis, Emma said their big, blended family, which includes the daughters he shares with ex-wife Demi Moore<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 Rumer, 35 Scout, 32 and Tallulah, 29 \u2014 makes the time to celebrate the many beautiful things happening in their lives.<\/p>\n

\"Bruce
Bruce Willis and Emma Heming attend the Glamour 2014 Women Of The Year Awards at Carnegie Hall on November 10, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s something she said her husband would want her to be doing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just really important for me to look up from the grief and the sadness, so that I can see what is happening around us,\u201d Emma said. \u201cBruce would really want us to be in the joy of what is. He would really want that for me and our family.\u201d<\/p>\n

While he doesn\u2019t have all of his faculties intact, Emma said Bruce is still teaching her and her family so much, calling him \u201cthe gift that keeps on giving.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLove, patience, resilience\u2026 so much,\u201d she said of what the family is learning from Hollywood icon. \u201cAnd he\u2019s teaching me \u2014 for me to be here doing this, this is not my comfort zone \u2014 but this is the power of Bruce.\u201d<\/p>\n

Emma added, \u201cIt\u2019s teaching them so much, and how to care and love and it\u2019s really\u2026 it\u2019s a beautiful thing amongst the sadness.\u201d<\/p>\n

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