Rumer Willis wants dad Bruce Willis to walk her down the aisle, rushes wedding prep after dementia diagnosis
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Rumer Willis is doing everything she can so her deteriorating father Bruce Willis is able to take part in her wedding. The pregnant actress has reportedly been planning her own nuptials to make it happen.
The heartbroken family recently announced that the 'Die Hard' star, 67, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia on February 16. The tragic update came after it was revealed that the actor had aphasia, a language disorder that affects a person's ability to communicate. He was forced to step away from acting in March 2022 due to his condition, which typically occurs after a brain injury or stroke.
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'Time is of the essence'
“Rumer desperately wants her father to not only remember her wedding but participate,” a family friend spilled to Radar Online. “The fact that doctors have said he could have as little as a few years left before the worst effects of the aphasia assert themselves is driving the decision for Rumer to get married as quickly as possible,” a source claimed, adding, “In some ways, it’s a wonderful gift for her to give to her dad considering that she’ll have to do a lot of the planning while pregnant. But everyone in the family knows that time is of the essence."
Rumer, 34, one of Bruce's three daughters with ex-wife Demi Moore, 60, announced in December that she was pregnant with her musician boyfriend Derek Richard Thomas. Sources reportedly spotted an enormous sparkler on her ring finger recently. “Bruce is already planning to walk Rumer down the aisle and give a big speech,” a family source told the outlet. “It gives him something to look forward to and fight for — along with the birth of Rumer’s baby!”
'Painful to see him deteriorate'
The embattled actor's downward spiral has been hard for his oldest children to watch. "It's been painful to see him deteriorate," the source said, adding, "The older girls miss the old Bruce — the one who used to tease them about their boyfriends and give them unsolicited advice." It's worth noting that Demi and Bruce have become closer than ever in the wake of the actor's health struggles. The duo -- widely considered the friendliest exes in Hollywood -- were married for 11 years and share daughters Rumer, Scout, 31, and Tallulah, 28.
MEAWW previously reported how Bruce’s family has been “cherishing every single moment” with him. "Demi has been in constant contact with Bruce and [his current wife] Emma," a source told Radar Online. "She's taking every opportunity she can to spend time with him. If she's not there by his side, she's calling on the phone just so Bruce can hear her voice." The insider added, "Bruce can't say much, and it doesn't seem like he's grasping much of what others say. So Emma's really been the voice and communicator for him."
The entire family has been rallying around the embattled actor in his time of need. "They know he won't be around forever," the insider revealed. "So, they're cherishing every single moment."