Topics: Bruce Willis, Dementia, Mental Health, Parenting, Celebrity, News, Books
Emma Heming Willis shared the heartbreaking moment she had to tell her and Bruce Willis' daughters that he was moving out.
Emma has been married to the Die Hard star for over a decade, and the pair share Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, together.
In 2022, the Willis family were shaken with the news that the actor had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). They did not make his diagnosis public until a year later, however.
Sadly, Willis' illness has since progressed to a point where his wife Emma decided it was best for him to live separately so that he can get the care he needs.
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Emma said of this: "Bruce would want that for our daughters. He would want them to be in a home that was more tailored to their needs, not his needs."
Speaking of their teenage daughters, Emma has now recalled the sad moment she broke the news to Mabel and Evelyn that he was going to live in a separate property near their family home.
She penned in her new book titled The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path: "'We’ve come to a point in Daddy’s disease where the care he requires is changing. It has to be more tailored to his every need,' I told them. 'And you should be in a home that is more tailored to your needs now'."
Emma went on to tell her daughters: "Also, Daddy would want you to have playdates, sleepovers, and more freedom than you’ve been able to have here. That would make him so happy."
To cushion the blow, Emma referred to Willis' new residence and her and the girls' 'second home', TooFab reports.
She described the space as 'a place they'd keep personal things like toys, arts and crafts supplies, bathing suits, pjs, and games, and that we could go stay with him anytime they wanted'.
While it was a heartbreaking decision to make, apparently Mabel and Evelyn understood that it was the right one.
"Even though they'd lived with his disease for so long that they understood, and even though this decision ensures Bruce's overall well-being and safety and allows our young children to thrive, it was an uncertain and painful time for us," she explained.
"In fact, it's still painful for me. After all, this is my husband, and having him in another home was not part of the future we'd mapped out together. You really can't dream this stuff up."
If you've been affected by dementia or Alzheimer's and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact the Alzheimer's Association via 800.272.3900 open 24 hours seven days a week.
