Emma Heming Willis, Bruce Willis’ wife, has spoken out about her “grief and sadness” over her husband’s dementia as they celebrated his 68th birthday.
“As you can see by my swollen eyes, I started the morning crying,” she said in an Instagram video.
“It’s critical that you look at all sides of this,” she says as she continues to raise awareness about his condition.
In February, Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.
This comes after he was diagnosed with aphasia, which causes speech difficulties, last year.
His family announced last year that he was retiring from acting due to the condition’s impact on his cognitive abilities.
The actor’s dementia diagnosis has an impact on his language, behavior, and ability to plan. There is no cure or intervention that can slow the progression of his symptoms, so they will worsen.
emmahemingwillis’s Instagram post should be skipped.
Heming Willis addressed the loss she feels while caring for her husband in her post.
“I always get this message where people always tell me, ‘Oh you’re so strong. “I’m not sure how you do it,” she said.
“I don’t have a choice. I wish I could, but I’m also raising two children.
“Sometimes in our lives, we have to put on our big girl pants and get to work, and that’s exactly what I’m doing. But I have sadness and grief every day, and I’m really feeling it today, his birthday.”
She is speaking out about her experiences because the “silver lining or flip side” is that she and her family appreciate the “warmth and love” of fans.
“I do it for you as much as I do for myself because I know how much you love my husband.”
In another post, she referred to Willis as “pure love” while playing with their children.
Willis’ ex-wife, actress Demi Moore, also attended his birthday party. Willis and she have three daughters together.
She shared video of him singing with his family as they wished him a happy birthday and presented him with a birthday pie.
He was seen smiling and participating in the festivities, as well as stumbling slightly after blowing out his candles.
“I’m so glad we could celebrate you today,” Moore said. I adore you and our entire family. Thank you for your kind words and warm wishes; we all appreciate them.”
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Willis rose to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s as a leading man in blockbuster films such as Die Hard, The Sixth Sense, Armageddon, and Pulp Fiction, as well as the hit TV series Moonlighting.
He’s also been nominated for five Golden Globes, one of which he won for Moonlighting, and three Emmys, two of which he won.