Emma Hemming Willis shares an update on Bruce Willis' health and her experiences as Bruce Willis' care partner in her first interview after his diagnosis with frontotemporal degeneration.

Bruce Willis’s wife, Emma Heming Willis shares an update about her husband’s life.

Emma spoke to Now in her first interview after Bruce's diagnosis of dementia. She talked about the challenges Bruce faces every day and how the family is handling them.

Willis said to Hoda K. Kotb, "Dementia can be difficult." It's not just hard for the person with dementia, but also the family. It's no different for Bruce or me or our daughters. "When they say that this is a disease of the family, it is."

The mother of two, Susan Dickinson, CEO of the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration appeared with her on the morning program Monday to kick-off World Frontotemporal Dementia Awareness Week.

Frontotemporal dementia can cause communication difficulties, including difficulty speaking and writing.

Emma, along with Bruce's parents, revealed that Bruce was taking a break from acting after being diagnosed earlier this year. She said it is often "hard" to tell if the 68-year old movie star knows what he is going through.

Dickinson began by admitting that it was difficult to tell the symptoms of this condition.

Dickinson stated that frontotemporal dementia is frequently misdiagnosed, even by doctors, as ALS or Parkinson's disease, and certain mental disorders such as Bipolar disorder.

Emma described the diagnosis as both a blessing and a curse, because it allowed her to understand better what her husband was going through.

"It was both a blessing and a curse," Emma said. Emma said, "It was a blessing and a curse to finally understand what happened so that I could accept what is."

The founder of Make Time Wellness said that accepting what has happened to Bruce is painful. "It does not make it any easier, but being aware and in the knowledge about what is happening makes it a bit easier."

Emma, who has two daughters, Mabel, 11 and Evelyn 9, with Bruce, says she is more a "care partner" for her husband than a caregiver.

Emma said, "He is my care partner because I am his partner."

Emma explained that she hasn't been able to manage his diagnosis alone.

She said, "It's important for care partners to know that they can ask for support and help from organizations such as the AFTD and Hilarity for Charity." "It's also important that care partners take care of themselves so they can be a good care partner to the person they are caring for."

Emma, who is Bruce's ex-wife Demi Moore's daughter, said that their large blended family -- which includes Rumer and Scout -- takes the time to enjoy the beautiful things in their lives.

She said that her husband would have wanted her to do this.

Emma stated, "It is important that I look above the sadness and grief to see what's happening around me." "Bruce really wants us to enjoy what we have." He would want me and my family to be happy.

Emma, who has not all his faculties intact but still teaches her and her family a lot, called Bruce "the gift that never stops giving."

She said that the family was learning "love, patience, and resilience" from Hollywood icon. "And he is teaching me - for me to do this, it is not in my comfort zone - but this is Bruce's power."

Emma continued, "It teaches them so much and how to love and care, and it's truly... it's beautiful amongst all the sadness."

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Title: Bruce Willis' Wife Emma Says It's 'Hard to Know' If the Actor Is Aware of His Condition
Sourced From: www.toofab.com/2023/09/25/bruce-willis-wife-emma-frontotemporal-dementia/
Published Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2023 15:19:34 +0000

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