Emma Heming Willis, wife of Bruce Willis, is speaking openly about the challenges of navigating life after the actor’s frontotemporal dementia (FTD) diagnosis. In a candid interview with Town & Country, Heming Willis discussed the impact of the diagnosis on their family and how she’s helping their young daughters, Mabel, 12, and Evelyn, 10, understand their father’s condition.
The “Die Hard” star’s diagnosis, first announced by his family in 2022 after he initially developed aphasia, has led the family to adjust to the realities of FTD, a progressive brain disease affecting behavior, speech, and decision-making. “I’m much better than I was when we first received the FTD diagnosis,” Heming Willis, 46, shared with former TODAY anchor Katie Couric. “I’m trying to find that balance between the grief and the sadness that I feel…and finding joy.”
Heming Willis has been careful to be honest with her daughters. “I’ve never tried to sugarcoat anything for them,” she said, emphasizing the importance of transparency. “If we could see that Bruce was struggling, I would address it with the kids…but this disease is chronic, progressive and terminal,” she explained, adding that she refrains from speaking about the terminal aspect with her daughters until they ask directly.
Willis also has three adult daughters with ex-wife Demi Moore: Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah, who recently described her father’s condition as “stable” on TODAY. “There’s painful days, but there’s so much love,” Tallulah shared, emphasizing her commitment to cherishing each moment.
Reflecting on her role as a caregiver, Heming Willis described how she’s adapting: “We had so many plans…so many things we wanted to experience together. You just rip that page out completely, and then how do you rewrite the story? I’m learning how to take some control back…There are cracks of light.”
Heming Willis’ approach exemplifies resilience and strength as she supports her family through the difficult journey of Bruce Willis’ FTD diagnosis, embracing each moment as they continue their path forward together.
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