After Bruce Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia six months ago, Emma Heming has not stopped talking about her experiences. The 45-year-old acknowledged the luxury of having resources that others might not have while sharing her issues with guilt in an opinion piece published last weekend in Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper. She stressed the need to recognize that not all caregivers can partake in leisurely pursuits like a peaceful trek.
Heming noted that although her family’s experience has received national exposure, there are innumerable untold tales of families dealing with frontotemporal dementia that should all be given consideration and care. Despite the difficulties, she understands the importance of sharing their story because she thinks it may speak to others who could be going through a similar situation. Heming considers herself to be a family support system for those who might not have the time, energy, or means to stand out for themselves.
Bruce Willis and Emma Heming Willis (Credits: Getty Images)
Heming expressed a sense of hope that has grown since Willis’s original diagnosis despite the challenges. Her mission has evolved to include empowering others through her platform and raising awareness of the value of spending time together as a family and enjoying life’s little pleasures.
On February 13, Willis’s family revealed the disease has worsened since his aphasia diagnosis in the spring of 2022. Willis’s family expressed comfort at receiving a definitive diagnosis despite the fact that communication difficulties were only one sign of the illness.
Frontotemporal dementia presents difficulties for the person with the diagnosis as well as their family members because it can affect behavior, speech, and movement. Heming discussed the challenges of figuring out whether Willis is aware of his condition in a September interview with Hoda Kotb, highlighting the general toll that dementia takes on the person who has been diagnosed, as well as their family.
Willis and Heming have two kids, Evelyn (age 9) and Mabel (age 11). Along with his ex-wife, Demi Moore, Willis has three grown daughters: Rumour, Scout, and Tallulah. Along with highlighting the difficulties, Heming’s journey with Willis has also brought attention to the value of celebration and solidarity in the midst of hardship.
