30 September 2023 , 18:20
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Bruce Willis' wife Emma Heming Willis has admitted she believes there is a "lack of understanding" surrounding his condition.
The actress and model has been busy promoting awareness of the form of dementia which Bruce is suffering from this week with a series of interviews and appearances for World Frontotemporal Dementia Awareness Week. She took to her social media to share a quote from Linde Lee, a FTD advocate who carries the MAPT gene mutation which can cause the disease.
The quote, posted to Emma's Instagram page - reads: "The rareness (of FTD) comes from the lack of understanding and the lack of discussion, but it is not rare when it is the most common form of dementia." Emma then showed her support for the sentiment as she captioned the post writing: "I really have nothing else to add here. Except, thank you @lindejlee for being a passionate advocate. I learn so much from you."
Emma and Bruce have been happily married for over 14 years (AFP via Getty Images)Earlier this week Emma, 45, opened up about the "guilt" she feels at needing time for herself while she acts as Bruce's "care partner." Talking on YouTube she said: “I think it’s so hard to regulate sometimes how you’re feeling and I think sometimes caregivers feel so guilty, you know. God dare they look after themselves.
"But’s it’s so important in order to sustain. And I always say this, like you have to be able to look after yourself because you can’t look after the person that you love if you aren’t filling yourself up.”
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Meanwhile, Emma has also been talking to TODAY co-anchor Hoda Kotb about Bruce's condition in an exclusive TV interview. During the chat she shared the heartbreaking news that she thinks it is "hard to know" if the Die Hard star is even aware of having the condition. Emma admitted the whole family feel the strain of what is happening to him.
Emma appeared on TODAY for a heartfelt chat (YouTube)She said: "Dementia is hard. It’s hard on the person diagnosed, it’s also hard on the family. And that is no different for Bruce, or myself, or our girls. When they say this is a family disease, it really is." In March 2022 Bruce's family announced that he would be stepping away from acting after being diagnosed with brain condition aphasia.
Then in February 2023 they revealed the crushing news that he had been diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia. During the chat Emma also shared her love for Bruce through his struggles calling him "the gift that keeps on giving," and admitting that he has taught their daughters Mabel and Evelyn, important personality traits like "love, patience and resilience." She added: "It's teaching them so much and how to care and love, and it’s really a beautiful thing amongst the sadness."