Bruce Willis‘ wife, moved by his condition, is pouring funds into Dementia Research.
Emma Heming Willis announced the news of their latest philanthropic fund, disclosing her motive for extending her advocacy for people who have dementia. Over time, she has emphasised how she strives to maintain a positive outlook towards her husband’s painful diagnosis.
Bruce Willis’ family announced he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in February 2023. The announcement came about a year after headlines that he was suffering from aphasia, causing him to step down from his career roles.
Bruce Willis’ Wife Wants To Help Caregivers And Patients
Emma Heming Willis stepped on stage on Thursday, March 12, to accept an award at the Hope Rising Benefit in New York City. The award, which she accepted on behalf of both herself and her husband at The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration’s event, was the Susan Newhouse & Si Newhouse Award of Hope. Emma then used this opportunity to share her beacon of hope in advocating for dementia patients.
The author announced that in the bid to continue to advocate for people living with dementia and their families as they navigate living with the neurodegenerative disease, she was launching a philanthropic fund. The Emma & Bruce Willis Fund for Dementia Research and Caregiver Support is housed at the Entertainment Industry Foundation.
According to Emma, the fund is “dedicated to advancing understanding of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) by raising awareness, supporting promising scientific research and strengthening support for caregivers.”
Emma Heming Willis Has Learnt A Lot While Navigating Her Husbands Diagnosis
Bruce’s diagnosis came late in 2022 at the age of 67 and has since taken a toll on him, including bringing an abrupt end to his career. PEOPLE reported that the 47-year-old shared that her walking with her husband amid this heartbreaking diagnosis has opened her eyes to many realities. She noted that having a loved one who is living with FTD is not an easy feat.
“I believe deeply in the importance of supporting research while also showing up for the caregivers who carry so much every day,” she said in her announcement speech. The mom of two then spoke further about the mission of her new fund, saying, “Through this fund, my hope is to help deepen understanding of FTD and ensure families facing it feel seen, supported, and less alone. Bruce has always led with generosity and heart, and I know he would be proud to see this effort helping families facing this disease.”
Emma previously got candid, detailing her struggles as a caregiver in her book “The Unexpected Journey.” She revealed that she felt really isolated until she realized she had to step up, speak to people in similar situations, and raise awareness. “I wrote the book that I wish someone had handed me on the day we received the diagnosis. Caregiving is hard, and there are many people doing it with little to no support,” the British actress added.
The Actress Faces The Challenges Raised By Her Husband’s Health Head-On
As stated by Mayo Clinic, Frontotemporal dementia is an all-encompassing term for a group of brain disorders that threaten the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, causing speech issues, changes in personality, and loss of motor skills.
The effects of the condition are already telling on Bruce as his wife previously noted that his speech has been greatly affected. Emma disclosed last year that the love of her life was beginning to lose his communication skills, but that has not withered her love for him.
The Blast reports that rather than dwelling on his inabilities, she has sought out other options to communicate and bond with her husband. “Sometimes, love does not need words. I can just sit there with Bruce, and we look at each other, and we laugh and smile and that, to me, is more than anything, “the mom of two shared.
Emma also revealed that she saw the decline in his speech capacity after noticing a change in his demeanor. His fun-loving personality was replaced with a cold and reserved one, and then she later noticed that the stutter he suffered from as a child returned.
The Author Had To Move Her Husband Into A Separate Home
Last year, Emma was faced with the crossroads of deciding what was best for the “Die Hard” star and their family. Ultimately, she decided to have Bruce moved into a home specially equipped for him as he navigates through his illness with 24/7 standby care.
Amid public backlash, the model maintained her stance, saying that it was the best move to accord stability, support, and balance for the whole family, including their two daughters, Mabel Ray and Evelyn Penn. As shared by The Blast, Emma claims she visits her husband “all the time,” and they share meals as a family several times a week.
“We are over there all the time. It is our second home, and it’s a place where we make memories, and that house supports Bruce’s every need, 24/7, and our other home, where our kids are, now they’re supported, now their needs are met, and that’s worked so well for us,” Emma previously said while appearing on a podcast.
Bruce Willis Is Reportedly Oblivious Of His Condition
Emma appeared on an episode of the “Conversations with Cam” podcast, where she disclosed that the movie star never fully realized that he was living with frontotemporal dementia, and she saw this as a blessing in disguise.
The author explained that her husband experiences anosognosia, which is a neurological condition in which the brain cannot perceive its own illness, saying, “Bruce never, never tapped in.” The Blast notes that she feels grateful that Bruce is unaware of what is happening to him, stressing that he is not in denial, but rather the anosognosia is actually a symptom of FTD.
“People think this might be denial, like they don’t want to go to the doctor because they’re like, ‘I’m fine, I’m fine,’ actually, this is the anosognosia that comes into play. It’s not denial. It’s just that their brains are changing. This is a part of the disease,” Emma told a news outlet.
Will Bruce Willis’ wife extend her research beyond dementia?