Bruce Willis and wife Emma now living separately amid his heart breaking dementia struggle

Emma Heming Willis, 47, wife of actor Bruce Willis, has shared about the emotional challenges of caring for her husband following his frontotemporal dementia (FTD) diagnosis. Married since 2009, the couple has two daughters, Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11.

In an interview with Diane Sawyer, featured in the ABC special Emma and Bruce: The Unexpected Journey, Heming cited one of the hardest decisions she’s confronted as a caregiver: moving Bruce into a home suited to his requirements.

“It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make,” she said. “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.”

Understanding the disease

FTD affects changes in personality and language also leading to a lack of empathy. Dr. Bruce Miller, a UCSF neurology professor and expert on the condition, mentioned:

“Suddenly, the person that you’re living with has no empathy or concern for you or your family.”

Emma cited how these changes have impacted Bruce:

“For someone who was very talkative and very engaged, he was just a little more quiet, and when the family would get together, he would kind of just melt a little bit.”

Despite the cognitive challenges, Bruce’s physical health is strong.

“Bruce is still very mobile. Bruce is in really great health overall, it’s just his brain that is failing him,” Heming clarified.

Beyond the caregiving role, Heming has become a vocal advocate for FTD awareness and caregiver support. She founded Make Time Wellness, promoting brain health for women, and authored The Unexpected Journey, providing insights and resources for families experiencing similar difficulties.

FAQs:

Q1. Who is Bruce Willis?
He is an acclaimed actor known for films like Die Hard.

Q2. Who is Emma Heming Willis?
She is Bruce Willis’ wife, married since 2009, and mother of their two daughters.