Emma Heming Willis shared an emotional update with fans Sunday as she celebrated Bruce Willis’ birthday.
The “Die Hard” actor received a frontotemporal dementia diagnosis last month after previously battling aphasia.
Heming told her Instagram followers that she deals with “sadness” and “grief” every day, but was especially overcome with emotions on Bruce’s 68th birthday.
“So today is my husband’s birthday,” Emma said. “I have started the morning by crying, as you can see by my swollen eyes and snotty nose.”
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Bruce Willis’ wife Emma Heming shared emotional tribute for Bruce’s 68th birthday (Frederick M. Brown)
“I just think it’s important that you see all sides of this. I always get this message, or people always tell me, ‘Oh you’re so strong. I don’t know how you do it.’ I’m not given a choice. I wish I was, but im also raising two kids in this.”
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Bruce and Emma have two children together, daughters Mabel and Evelyn.
He has three daughters with ex-wife Demi Moore: Rumer, Scout and Tallulah
“So sometimes in our lives we have to put our big girl panties on and get to it, and that’s what im doing,” Emma said. “But I do have times of sadness every day, grief every day … and I’m really feeling it today on his birthday.”
“So I worked on this reel that I’m posting for my husband’s birthday. I don’t know why I do that to myself because the videos are like a knife in my heart.”
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She added, “As much as I do it for myself, I do it for you, because I know how much you love my husband and – don’t cry Emma – but it means so much to me, so thank you.”
Willis’ family announced in February that his condition progressed to frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
Bruce celebrated the holidays with ex Demi Moore and wife Emma, in addition to all of their children. (Demi Moore Instagram)
FTD is “the result of damage to neurons in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain,” according to the National Institute on Aging. “Many possible symptoms can result, including unusual behaviors, emotional problems, trouble communicating, difficulty with work, or difficulty with walking.”
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The family shared more about the “cruel disease” in a statement posted on the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) website.
“For people under 60, FTD is the most common form of dementia, and because getting the diagnosis can take years, FTD is likely much more prevalent than we know. Today there are no treatments for the disease, a reality that we hope can change in the years ahead,” the release said.
Bruce Willis and Demi Moore divorced more than 20 years ago, but have remained close. (From L-R) Rumer, Demi, Bruce, Scout, Emma and Tallulah attend Demi’s ‘Inside Out’ Book Party in September 2019. (Stefanie Keenan)
Bruce and Emma have been married since 2009 and have two daughters. (Theo Wargo)
“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.”
In March 2022, the family announced Willis would be retiring from acting after receiving an aphasia diagnosis. The disorder affects communication, including the ability to understand verbal cues and written words.
According to the National Aphasia Association, the disorder affects 2 million Americans, with nearly 180,000 diagnosed with the disorder annually.
Willis is set to become a grandfather soon. In December, his oldest daughter, Rumer, announced she’s pregnant with her first child.
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