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Emma Heming sheds light on silent struggle, says husband Bruce Willis' dementia is 'hard on the family'

Bruce Willis' family revealed his dementia diagnosis in February 2023

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In a heartfelt interview on the 'Today' show, Emma Heming Willis opened up about her husband Bruce Willis' struggle with his dementia diagnosis and her challenging role as a caregiver.

She appeared for her first official TV interview since her husband's diagnosis on Monday, September 25. Heming helped kick off World Frontotemporal Dementia Awareness Week alongside Susan Dickinson, CEO of the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration.

Emma Heming says its 'hard to know' if Bruce Willis is aware of his dementia

In the interview, Heming fought back tears as she admitted to the show's co-anchor Hoda Kotb that it is hard to know whether Bruce is aware of his deteriorating health and dementia diagnosis.

"Dementia is hard," said the 45-year-old as she further added, "It’s hard on the person diagnosed, it’s also hard on the family. And that is no different for Bruce, or myself, or our girls. When they say this is a family disease, it really is," according to Today.

When was Bruce Willis diagnosed with Aphasia?

The 'Die Hard' actor's family public revealed in March 2022 that he had been diagnosed with aphasia which is a condition affecting a person's communication abilities and language processing. The diagnosis led him to step away from acting.

In February 2023, his family revealed that Willis' condition had progressed to frontotemporal dementia.

Emma Heming calls herself Bruce Willis' 'care partner'

Heming who married the 68-year-old actor in 2009 described herself as her husband's "care partner" and revealed that learning of his diagnosis "was the blessing and the curse."

"To finally understand what was happening, so that I could be into the acceptance of what is. It doesn’t make it any less painful, but just being … in the know of what is happening to Bruce makes it a little easier," Heming explained.

She further stated that Willis' diagnosis is "teaching them so much – how to love, how to care, and it’s a really beautiful thing amongst the sadness."

Emma Heming said she's making a 'conscious effort every day'

Despite the Willis' family's effort to stay positive, Heming who launched a braincare brand 'Make Time Wellnes' opened up about her daily challenges.

In a heartfelt Instagram post in August 2023, she said she always tries to "look for something beautiful" in her stressful days."

"I know it looks like I’m out living my best life, [but] I have to make a conscious effort every single day to live the best life that I can," said Heming who shares daughters Mabel, 11, and Evelyn, nine, with Willis.

"I do that for myself, I do that for our two children, and [I do that for] Bruce, who would not want me to live any other way. So I don’t want it to be misconstrued that I’m good, ’cause I’m not. I’m not good," she added.