Emma Heming Willis Recalls Blacking Out After News Of Bruce Willis' Dementia

Emma Heming Willis continues to shed more light on her husband Bruce Willis' frontotemporal dementia (FTD) battle. 

The media personality recently reflected on the traumatic day she learned about her partner's dementia diagnosis and how it influenced her caregiver advocacy. Her revelation follows her decision to place the Hollywood veteran in a separate home.

Emma Heming Willis has been vocal about Bruce Willis' FTD battle, frequently sharing health updates on social media and drawing attention to the struggles of caregivers. She tied the knot to the retired actor in 2009 and welcomed two daughters.

Emma opened up about the moment she and Bruce learned about his dementia, noting the news was too much for her to handle. She recalled tuning out as the doctor explained what FTD was, noting she was unable to process his words due to the shock.

"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,'" Emma recalled. She noted the diagnosis was welcomed because it explained Bruce's strange behavioral changes; however, the lack of support was disheartening.

"Being sent on our way with no support, no nothing was really traumatic. It's not just happening to us. This is how many people are receiving their diagnosis," Emma claimed in her cover story for PEOPLE. She explained that she had no one to depend on but herself and prioritized researching what comes next.

Emma confessed that becoming a full-time caregiver for her husband, whose privacy she had to protect amid her responsibilities as a mother to two minor daughters, wasn't easy. The situation left her feeling hopeless as "life felt very dark, very one-note of just grief and sadness."

Although she was unprepared for the hurdles and bumps along the way, navigating Bruce's progressive condition became less challenging with the help of experts and a supportive community. Once Emma learned she wasn't alone, she was inspired to help others.

From sharing more about Bruce's condition publicly to addressing her fears and doubts, Emma became famous as a caregiver advocate. She eventually penned her experience in the new book, "The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path."

Emma's recent comments about Bruce's dementia battle followed her decision to move him into a separate home. The Blast covered the update, reporting that she claimed it was the "hardest thing" to live separately from her longtime spouse.

The doting wife explained that Bruce needed round-the-clock care, something she could not provide while looking after their daughters. Instead, Emma placed him in a new home with professional caregivers dedicated to his every need.

Additionally, Emma claimed her decision was the best way forward, saying: "I get to go back to being Bruce's wife and the kids can be kids and there's beauty in that." She noted she was grateful because the setup allowed them to spend more time as a family.

Days before Emma's recollection, The Blast shared that an insider claimed things weren't looking good for Bruce amid his dementia battle. They alleged the beloved entertainer's condition was "going downhill fast."

The insider noted things were so bad that Bruce could no longer recognize some faces. On that note, his children, including the three he welcomed with his first wife, Demi Moore, were spending as much time as possible with him.

Their visits were reportedly the highlight of Bruce's day, with the insider claiming, "he lights up when he sees his children." As for Emma's decision to place him in a separate home, they stressed that his older children were on board, and there was "no drama" within the family.

Last month, The Blast reported that sources claimed Bruce's ex-wife was going above and beyond advocating for his spot in the Oscars. Moore and the rest of the Willis clan believed the retired actor deserved the honorary award for his decades-long achievement in the industry.

Although the Academy Awards had its own timeframe for giving out prestigious honors, Moore and her kids were racing against time because they wanted Bruce to hit the stage before his condition worsened.

Moore's advocacy for Bruce's Oscar followed her loss at this year's ceremony. She had been nominated for Best Actress alongside stars like Cynthia Erivo and Fernanda Torres, but lost the award to Mikey Madison, who starred in "Anora." 

What will Emma Heming Willis share next?