Bruce Willis' Wife Emma Doubles Down On Silver Lining Focus With Anniversary Post

Emma Heming Willis is reminiscing about how "time stood still" with her husband of 16 years, Bruce Willis.

The lovebirds tied the knot in 2009 and have remained together since then, welcoming two daughters over these years. Recently, the pair have been living apart due to the actor's diagnosis. As she marks this milestone, she reminisces about their early days together as a couple.

Bruce Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia back in 2022. Although Emma tries to take it all in a positive stride, the illness has taken a quick toll on her husband, affecting his career and daily life.

Emma took to Instagram to mark 18 years together with her husband, Bruce. In the emotional tribute, she recalled the moment when they first became a couple, sharing a throwback picture of them. The cute snap shows the Hollywood veteran giving her a kiss on the side of her head as she looked on.

"18 years ago, he became my boyfriend. With one kiss on the top of my head, time stood still. I'm so lucky to know this kind of love," her caption read. This celebration comes amid the actor's ongoing battle with dementia.

Emma's post has received close to 100k likes and over 500 comments. Many users shared congratulatory messages with them, while others shared their own love stories in the comments. Countless heart emojis as well as holiday wishes also flooded the comments, and a handful of fans asked about Bruce's health and well-being.

The mom of two recently shared a poignant message covering how different this holiday season is due to her husband's diagnosis with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and primary progressive aphasia (PPA).

She recalled how Bruce was the active dad in the household, making pancakes and playing out in the snow in previous years. She also noted how much he loved the holidays, family time, and traditions. In light of his illness, the holiday season in her household has changed, creating an aching space with memories.

"I've learned that the holidays don't disappear when dementia enters your life. They change," she wrote after expressing that moments, such as the festive season, that once brought her uncomplicated joy may now arrive tangled in a "web of grief."

A few months ago, it was revealed that Bruce had developed an inability to communicate appropriately with words like he used to. His wife shared that PPA has limited his speech capacity but not his ability to communicate in other ways. 

Emma acknowledged that the effects of the condition vary in people, from speech to movement and behavior. She then noted that this change has not built a barrier between them; rather, it has made their love grow stronger.

The Blast shared that the model first observed the changes in his moods from a charismatic and fun-loving person to someone reserved and cold. After these, the language issues surfaced, and the stutter he had during his childhood days reemerged.

Recently, The Blast reported on how Emma admitted that losing Bruce's role as the center of the holidays in their family has brought her some level of grief. She explained that grieving was not only meant for death, but should also be allowed when great, unexpected changes occur.

Emma disclosed that sometimes she found herself "cursing" his name while taking on tasks that used to be his, not out of spite or hatred but simply because she missed the old him. Adapting to the new normal has been challenging, but she concluded that she would make room to face her grief and maintain happiness.

"I'm still allowed to feel annoyed that this is one more reminder of how things have changed," she expressed before stating that these changes make room for them to build new memories together.

In October last year, Emma opened up about the hardest decision she had to make for her husband and family. She disclosed that she took this step with love and the safety of her daughters in mind.

Although she faced so much backlash and criticism for moving Bruce to a second home, she maintained her stance that it was the best thing for them at the time. This way, the retired actor would get all the care he requires, while the children would begin to prepare mentally for the inevitable.

As reported by The Blast, the decision was never up for debate, and the model took that move with the conviction that her husband would not want his diagnosis to cloud their children's lives. 

Happy Anniversary to Emma Heming Willis and Bruce Willis!