Bruce Willis' wife got emotional while giving fans an update about the star's current condition amid his battle with dementia.
Appearing in her first official interview since her husband was diagnosed with the condition, Emma Heming-Willis opened up about the journey the family has been on ahead of World Frontotemporal Dementia Awareness Week.
The 45-year-old appeared on the TODAY Show on Monday with Susan Dickinson, CEO of the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration to discuss the impact of frontotemporal dementia and how it can affect individuals as well as families.
"Dementia is hard," Heming Willis told the host Hoda Kotb. "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."
She also shared it is unclear if her husband was even aware of his own condition.
"It's hard to know," she said.
Have a look at the clip from the interview below:The former model also admitted that coming to terms with her husband's diagnosis was "[a] blessing and the curse."
"To finally understand what was happening so that I could be into the acceptance of what is — it doesn't make it any less painful, but ... just being in the know of what is happening to Bruce makes it a little easier," she said.
Dickinson then elaborated on some of the symptoms one should look out for if they were suspecting that a loved one may have the illness including speech issues, and incomplete tasks.
"What we're really talking about is unexplained changes in how a person is in the world," the CEO of the association said. "So, somebody who normally speaks absolutely fine has trouble putting their thoughts into meaningful sentences, or they may lose the meaning of a specific word."
She also added that all of a sudden struggling with finances, having problems at work and also making poor decisions or forgetting to complete tasks can also be signs to look out for.
Back in March, the 45-year-old told fans that her husband had been diagnosed with the disease following his aphasia diagnosis in 2022.
"Since we announced Bruce's diagnosis of aphasia in spring 2022, Bruce's condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD)," she said at the time. "Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis."
She continued: "Bruce always believed in using his voice in the world to help others, and to raise awareness about important issues both publicly and privately."
While appearing on the TODAY Show, Heming Willis said she calls herself a "care partner," rather than a caretaker.
"It’s important for care partners to look after themselves so that they can be the best care partner for the person they’re caring for," she said.
She added her husband is "the gift that keeps on giving," and that he's taught their two daughters, Mabel and Evelyn, traits like "love, patience and resilience," before adding: "It's teaching them so much and how to care and love, and it’s really a beautiful thing amongst the sadness."
The journey hasn't been easy for the star or his family who have had to watch their loved one degenerate over time.
Last month, Heming Willis admitted that she was "not good" in a video posted to Instagram.
"I know it looks like I’m out living my best life - I have to make a conscious effort every single day to live the best life that I can," she explained. "I do that for myself. I do that for our two children. And Bruce, who would not want me to live any other way. So I don’t want it to be misconstrued."
The former model started tearing up as she said that she's doing her best to remain strong given the circumstances before offering other people who were going through the same thing some advice.
"I know your day is stressful, and I know that your day is hard, but I just want you to break it up for a minute, and just look for something beautiful," she said.
Our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time. We wish them all the best.
