'This baby feels heaven-sent': Bruce Willis finds solace as first grandchild arrives amid dementia battle
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Bruce Willis has apparently discovered a new will to live with the birth of his first grandchild amid his dementia battle. The 67-year-old Hollywood veteran and his ex-wife Demi Moore, 60, became first time-grandparents after their eldest daughter Rumer welcomed her baby girl with her musician boyfriend Derek Richard Thomas on April 18.
Rumer and Derek took to their Instagram on April 25 to announce the birth of their daughter while revealing the name they had chosen for her. "Louetta Isley Thomas Willis. You are pure magic. Born at home on Tuesday, April 18th. You are more than we ever dreamed of," they wrote in the post caption. Now, a source close to the Willis family revealed that Louetta has brought real happiness to Bruce, who is a doting caretaker to his daughter's little one. "This baby feels heaven-sent. She's brought Bruce so much happiness,” the insider told Radar Online, adding that the actor has completely lit up since his granddaughter arrived.
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'He's been making the most of life'
"Seeing Bruce as a grandpa is the sweetest thing. He's always been so good with babies,” the tipster dished further. In addition, the blessing of a healthy and adorable granddaughter has distracted the ‘Pulp Fiction’ actor from his own diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia. "He's been making the most of life, but there are challenges," noted the insider, adding "There are tough days and sadness, so having Louetta has been such a blessing for him and the whole family."
In December 2022, Rumer announced that she is expecting her first child with Derek, just one month after they went public with their romance. At that time the couple shared a slew of adorable photos, with one showing Derek gently resting his hand on Rumer’s stomach while sending a shocked look toward the camera. Following the announcement, a source close to Bruce told Radar Online that he is ‘determined to stay coherent' for a future grandchild and is adamant that she will receive the greatest care he could offer.
'This new baby is going to get the best he has to offer'
"He's determined to stay coherent and lucid for as long as possible so his grandchild can have some happy memories of a grandfather, who was present and active in his or her life," the source stated. They added, “Bruce has never backed away from a challenge. He's dead-set that this new baby is going to get the best he has to offer.” The announcement from Rumer apparently came days after it was revealed that Willis’ health is growing worse. "It's been painful to see him deteriorate. The older girls miss the old Bruce — the one who used to tease them about their boyfriends and give them unsolicited advice,” the insider continued.
Early in 2022, the 'Hart’s War' actor announced his retirement from acting after his family reported he had been diagnosed with aphasia. Later in 2023, his family delivered another update and announced that Bruce has been given a more specific diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia. "Since we announced Bruce's diagnosis of aphasia in spring 2022, Bruce’s condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD)," the Ghost actress wrote in a joint statement. "Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis," they announced in a social media post.
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