Bruce Willis’ wife Emma Heming Willis has shared an emotional update as her husband battles frontotemporal dementia.
Sharing an update, Willis said that she was “not good” but encouraged other caretakers to find the beauty of life.
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The actress shared a video to her Instagram, alongside a caption that explained the video as a “care partner PSA”.
“My message is simple. When we are not looking after ourselves, we are no good to the people we love who we want to show up for and take care of,” she wrote.
“I don’t have this down to a fine-science either, but I try. It’s an affirmation I use daily so it’s kept in the forefront of my mind.”
“Your pictures, words of support and love for me and my family were felt. Honestly, thank you, it helps 🙏🏽.
“I ask that you’ll consider to keep looking for that one beautiful thing or moment in your day 💞 And I hope you can take me seriously in my dopey hat 😁.”
Willis’ family first announced his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis in February, with Heming Willis sharing updates in the months since.
In the video, Heming Willis said that the photos sent from other caretakers were making her “so happy”.
The mother-of-two filmed the video seated in her parked car, still wearing her hiking clothes and hat.
“I’m asking care partners to send me photos because I think it’s just so important for us to break up our thinking, which for me can feel very doom and gloom,” she admitted.
“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.
“I do that for myself, I do that for our two children and Bruce, who would not want me to live any other way.”
The couple has two young children, Mabel, 11, and Evelyn, nine.
The mother went on to say that she did not “want it to be misconstrued that I’m good, because I’m not.”
“I’m not good.”
“But I have to put my best foot forward for the sake of myself and my family because again when we are not looking out for ourselves we cannot look out for anyone that we love.
“So it’s really important.”
The 55-year-old said that she makes a “conscious effort” to be positive but admitted that it “does not come to me easily”.
Heming Willis ended her video by encouraging other caretakers to “take a moment out of your day, and I know that your day is stressful and I know that your day is hard, but I just want you to break it up for a minute, just for a second and look for something beautiful”.
Among the commenters was one of Willis’ daughters with ex-wife Demi Moore, Tallulah Willis.
“I love you. I love the hat. I love your words,” the 29-year-old wrote.
“I admire you so very much. When you said ‘Bruce wouldn’t want it any other way,’ I physically shouted out YES! Thank you for your openness and sharing YOU,” added another.
“So sorry Emma! We are here for you! This is such a hard road every day. Thank you for speaking for us❤️,” a user said.
“You are smarter than your years Emma. Words can sometimes be just words. Caring for a loved one with dementia is probably one of the hardest things to overcome,” added a commenter.
Dementia awareness
Heming Willis has been advocating for awareness around dementia in the months since Willis’ frontotemporal dementia diagnosis on February 16.
The model has said that raising awareness for dementia has become her “mission” and she will continue to advocate for her husband’s welfare.
“I just saw something about me getting my ‘five minutes (of fame)’, which is great, which means that you’re listening,” she said on March 8.
“So, I’m going to take my five minutes and I’m going to turn it into 10 because I’m always going to advocate for my husband.”
Heming Willis said that, while she had people’s attention, she would also raise awareness around frontotemporal dementia and for caregivers, calling them “unsung heroes”.
“And then I’m going to turn my grief and my anger and my sadness and do something good around something that feels less than,” she went on.
“Watch this space because I didn’t come to play.”
What is frontotemporal dementia?
Frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, is a group of disorders caused by a build-up of brain cell-destroying proteins in the brain’s frontal lobes (behind the forehead) or temporal lobes (behind the ears).
These areas of the brain are generally associated with personality, behaviour and language.
The condition typically strikes between the ages of 45 and 64.
“Today there are no treatments for the disease, a reality that we hope can change in the years ahead,” said a February statement, issued on behalf of Heming Willis, his daughters Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel and Evelyn, and his ex-wife Demi Moore.
“As Bruce’s condition advances, we hope that any media attention can be focused on shining a light on this disease that needs far more awareness and research.”
“Bruce always believed in using his voice in the world to help others, and to raise awareness about important issues both publicly and privately.
“We know in our hearts that — if he could today — he would want to respond by bringing global attention and a connectedness with those who are also dealing with this debilitating disease and how it impacts so many individuals and their families.
“Ours is just one family with a loved one who suffers from FTD, and we encourage others facing it to seek out the wealth of information and support available through AFTD.
“And for those of you who have been fortunate enough to not have any personal experience with FTD, we hope that you will take the time to learn about it, and support AFTD’s mission in whatever way you can.”
Concluding their statement, the family said Willis had “always found joy in life”.
“It has meant the world to see that sense of care echoed back to him and to all of us.
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