Emma Heming Willis is a model and entrepreneur known for her successful businesses and her marriage to a Hollywood action star Bruce Willis. The 47-year-old woman has made a career in business, also taking on the role of taking care of her husband. Now, she opens up about managing their family life as Bruce navigates ongoing health challenges.According to TODAY, Emma Heming Willis appeared on the morning show on Wednesday, May 27, and spoke briefly about her husband as he manages the family’s ongoing battle with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). “You know, we’re doing good,” she told Savannah Guthrie. “My husband is supported and loved and we are doing the best we can under the circumstances.”
Bruce Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia
The family of the ‘Die Hard’ star announced that Bruce Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, in 2023. It is a group of brain disorders that cause the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain to atrophy, resulting in speech problems, emotional problems and personality changes. Other symptoms may include loss of motor skills: trouble walking, swallowing or muscle spasms. It is a progressive disease, and it is the most common type of dementia in people under 60 years of age.For Bruce, he remains “very much present in his body,” Emma explains, adding that as his dementia has progressed, “we’ve moved on with him. We’ve adapted with him.”
Emma Heming Willis takes Bruce to his second home
Earlier this year, Emma revealed that Bruce, 71, had been moved into a second home due to the progression of his FTD. “It was one of the hardest decisions. It didn’t come easy,” Emma told Cameron Oaks Rogers on the Jan. 28 episode of his ‘Conversations with Cam’ podcast. “Caregivers have very tough decisions to make and we have to do what’s best for our family, what’s safest for us as a person.”Ultimately, concern for the daughters he shares with actress Mabel Ray, 14, and Evelyn Penn, 12, influenced the decision, he said. “Bruce would not want his two young daughters to be clouded by his illness. I know that,” he explained. “They didn’t have bedrooms, play dates. We didn’t invite people… it was a very hard time.”
Emma Heming Willis launches brain health brand
As Bruce’s carer, Emma said one of the things she quickly realized was how important it was to make sure she stayed healthy, which inspired her growing women’s brain health brand, ‘Make Time Wellness’.During the morning show, she noted that 1 in 5 women will develop Alzheimer’s disease, compared to 1 in 10 men, and emphasized the importance of having conversations about brain health. “What I’ve learned is that it’s very important to take care of ourselves and if we don’t take care of ourselves, how can we take care of the people we love in our lives? So it’s very important to prioritize our health, prioritize the health of our brains,” he said. “The truth is, there are things we can do today to help our brains tomorrow.”We’ve grown with him, and we’ve adapted with him as his dementia has progressed, Emma explained of their family’s journey together.THE NEGATIVES: If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, assault or abuse, seek immediate help. Contact a mental health specialist, NGO or someone you trust. Several helplines are available to provide assistance.
