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Topics: Bruce Willis, Dementia, Health, Mental Health, Hollywood, Celebrity, Film and TV
Ellie Kemp
Topics: Bruce Willis, Dementia, Health, Mental Health, Hollywood, Celebrity, Film and TV
Bruce Willis' wife Emma Heming Willis has revealed how she felt when her husband was diagnosed with dementia.
The Hollywood star carved out an iconic action career in the late 80s, perhaps best known for portraying John McClane in the Die Hard franchise. But the actor, now 70 years old, had to take a step back in 2022 due to ongoing health issues.
He and his family later announced that he had been diagnosed with the language impairment disorder aphasia.
The following year, Willis' family stated he had been diagnosed with a form of dementia called frontotemporal degeneration (FTD).
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FTD impacts the lobes of the brain behind the forehead, with symptoms including personality changes, obsessive behavior and speaking difficulties.
There is no cure for it, or any way of slowing the progressive disorder down.
Now, Willis' wife of 16 years, Emma Hemis Willis, has opened up about receiving the news of his life-altering diagnosis.
The couple share two daughters, Mabel Ray Willis, 13, and Evelyn Penn Willis, 11.
Willis was previously married to actress Demi Moore, who share three daughters; Rumer Willis, 37, Scout LaRue Willis, 34, and Tallulah Belle Willis, 31.
Now, for the first time on TV, Emma - who is now Willis' carer - is sitting down with ABC's Diane Sawyer to discuss Willis' 'unexpected journey' - which is also the title of her upcoming book about Willis' diagnosis.
In a trailer for the ABC interview, Emma recalled the moment she learnt of the diagnosis: "I was so panicked and I just remember hearing it and not hearing anything else. It was like I was free falling..."
Elsewhere, on her website, she explained why she was inspired to write a book about their experience.
Speaking of transitioning into Willis' carer, she said: "Those early stages were deeply isolating. I struggled with a sense of powerlessness, feeling as if I had no control over what was happening to my family.
"At the same time, I was grappling with grief, the loss of the life I had known, all while raising our two young daughters."
She added: "I came to realize that this new reality could easily consume me if I let it. That’s when I reached out for a lifeline."
The family went public with Willis' diagnosis and Emma says 'we were met with an outpouring of kindness and global support'.
She continued: "Going public was the right decision for our family for many reasons: to reduce stigma, raise awareness, and, for me, to connect with a wider community."
Emma wishes she had 'taken the leap of faith and asked for help sooner,' explaining: "Everything changed when I found the right information, resources, and community to lean on. I began to realize that, even in my new role as a care partner, I still had agency. And with that, I started to find joy, see beauty, and choose hope."
This is why Emma wrote a book - to help others in similarly devastating situations as her and her family.
More than 55 million people are living with dementia worldwide, with that figure expected to multiply to 139 million by 2050, as per Alzheimer's Disease International.
Emma Heming Wills' interview with Diane Sawyer airs Tuesday night (August 26) on ABC.