Bruce Willis' wife Emma Heming has revealed why she has decided to speak out about the actor's devastating diagnosis.
The Pulp Fiction star, now 70, retired from acting after he was diagnosed with communication disorder aphasia in 2022.
People with aphasia may have difficulty speaking, understanding conversation, reading, or writing. Symptoms vary from mild word-finding problems to severe inability to use language.
Later that year, it was confirmed that his condition had progressed to incurable frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a neurodegenerative disease that affects behavior, personality, and language.
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Recently, his wife of 16 years defended her decision to move the actor into a seperate home with full-time carers.
"People with an opinion... how quick they are to judge a caregiver," Heming explained in a post on Instagram. "And that is what caregivers are up against."
"Sharing openly may invite opinions, but more importantly, it creates connection and validation for those actually navigating the realities of caregiving every day," she added.
In an interview with People, the British-American model opened up about her decision to reveal his diagnosis.
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"Early on, I was too scared to say anything to anyone. It felt like what was happening was only happening to us," she said.
"Over time, I realised it would be beneficial to talk about it and raise awareness so people get to the doctor sooner, can be diagnosed sooner, get into clinical trials."
The actor explained that she had 'pins and needles going through my body' when doctors informed them of the news.
"I’m sure the doctor was explaining what FTD is, [but] I couldn’t hear a single thing," she continued.
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"I had pins and needles going through my body. My ears were wafting. I’m sure he was feeding us information but all I heard was just, ‘Check back in and here’s a pamphlet.’"
It comes after Demi Moore, Willis' ex wife admitted that it has been 'difficult' watching his decline.
"It’s hard to see somebody who was so vibrant and strong and so directed shift into this other parts of themself," the Charlie’s Angels star said on the Oprah podcast.
"But you know, my particular perspective is one, I really always say it’s so important just to meet them where they’re at.
"Don’t have an expectation of them needing to be who they were or who you want them to be, and when you do that, I find that there is an incredible sweetness and something that’s soft and tender and loving.
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"And perhaps it is more playful and childlike in certain sense, because of how much more caretaking they need."
Topics: Bruce Willis, Celebrity, Film, Health
Anish Vij