Bruce Willis’ wife, Emma Heming Willis, recently expressed some of her feelings with social media followers as she deals with her husband’s dementia diagnosis.
“I think it’s so important for us to break up our thinking which can feel, for me very much, like doom and gloom,” the 45-year-old told her followers during a video post. “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 I can.”
Emma said she keeps going because of the two daughters she shares with the actor, Mabel, 11, and Evelyn, 9.
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She continued, “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 that I am good because I am not. I am not good.”
She got a little emotional while concluding the message: “I have to put my best foot forward for myself and the sake of my family. Again, when we are not looking after ourselves we cannot look after anyone that we love. So, it is really important and, like I said, this is a conscious effort.”
“I am just doing the best that I can always. Your pictures are making me happy,” Emma went on. “I just want you to take a moment out of your day to break it up for a minute to just look for something beautiful.”
The mom of two reiterated the message in the video caption, saying it’s vital to take care of ourselves before caring for others.
“This is 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. 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.”
Willis’ family shared a statement on social media in 2022 announcing that he was stepping away from his acting career after being diagnosed with aphasia. Later, his family shared that the “Die Hard” star had a new diagnosis.
“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),” the family said in February 2023. “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.”