{"id":5464,"date":"2025-09-05T08:11:54","date_gmt":"2025-09-05T15:11:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/?p=5464"},"modified":"2025-09-05T08:11:54","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T15:11:54","slug":"emma-heming-willis-reveals-traumatic-way-they-got-bruces-dementia-diagnosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/?p=5464","title":{"rendered":"Emma Heming Willis reveals \u2018traumatic\u2019 way they got Bruce\u2019s dementia diagnosis"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"main\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"hydrate-root sc-10wlkbs-0\" data-component=\"SupportNSCNative\" data-loading=\"lazy\" data-theme-name=\"base\">\n<aside class=\"sc-hez36s-0 dFpFuY\">\n<div class=\"sc-hez36s-1 dmMyEN\">\n<h3 data-testid=\"support-nsc-title\" class=\"sc-hez36s-2 fXvmgM\">Your support helps us to tell the story<\/h3>\n<div class=\"sc-hez36s-8 juUDRT\">\n<div class=\"sc-hez36s-13 cqPbFA\">\n<div class=\"sc-aja53j-0 rAFIl sc-hez36s-16 jZSKtc\">\n<div class=\"sc-aja53j-6 PdmgT\">\n<div data-testid=\"dropdown-with-gradient-collapsed-content-container\" class=\"sc-aja53j-5 hJPJVF\">\n<div>\n<div data-testid=\"dropdown-with-gradient-collapsed-content\" class=\"sc-aja53j-4 dDhojf\">\n<div>\n<div data-testid=\"support-nsc-collapsed-content-tablet\" class=\"sc-hez36s-7 cUJDWn\">\n<p class=\"sc-1uza6dc-0 jEZjIj\">From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it&#8217;s investigating the financials of Elon Musk&#8217;s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, &#8216;The A Word&#8217;, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-1uza6dc-0 jEZjIj\">At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-1uza6dc-0 jEZjIj\">The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"sc-1uza6dc-1 gunhQQ\">Your support makes all the difference.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><button class=\"sc-aja53j-1 dLkuvY sc-aja53j-7 eMEmGu\"><span data-testid=\"dropdown-with-gradient-dropdown-tablet\" class=\"sc-aja53j-3 dHXFkr\"><span data-action-type=\"Read more\" class=\"sc-aja53j-2 jrwZqm\">Read more<\/span><svg class=\"sc-eaj12q-0 hUgQwJ sc-culv3z-0 eifaJK sc-a5wy94-0 hyKPon\"><use href=\"#ee6613da15642019\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Bruce Willis\u2019s wife, Emma Heming Willis, has described the painful way she learned about her husband\u2019s dementia diagnosis. <\/p>\n<p>The 70-year-old actor\u2019s family announced in 2023 that he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), only a year after they said he was \u201cstepping away\u201d from acting because he had aphasia.<\/p>\n<p>Now, Heming Willis is reflecting on her husband&#8217;s health journey, recalling the shock she felt in November 2022 when a neurologist told her that he had FTD.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m sure the doctor was explaining what FTD is, [but] I couldn\u2019t hear a single thing,\u201d she said in a new interview with <em>People<\/em>. \u201cI had pins and needles going through my body. My ears were wafting. I\u2019m sure he was feeding us information but all I heard was just, \u2018Check back in and here\u2019s a pamphlet.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Although Heming Willis was relieved to have an official diagnosis, she didn\u2019t know how to handle this news. <\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-awdjp1-2 cbpRGD sc-awdjp1-3 image align-center\">\n<figure class=\"sc-1cbdeug-0 cXcwgU\">\n<div class=\"sc-awdjp1-0 htBKbU\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.the-independent.com\/2025\/08\/30\/08\/newFile-1.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.the-independent.com\/2025\/08\/30\/08\/newFile-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=320&amp;auto=webp 320w, https:\/\/static.the-independent.com\/2025\/08\/30\/08\/newFile-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=640&amp;auto=webp 640w\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Emma Heming Willis recalls shock of learning her husband Bruce had FTD\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-1cbdeug-1 sc-1cbdeug-3 bpFomM hgzWpY\">Emma Heming Willis recalls shock of learning her husband Bruce had FTD<span class=\"sc-1cbdeug-7 CXMrn\"> <!-- -->(<!-- -->Getty Images<!-- -->)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cI was grateful to get a diagnosis, but there is no cure for this disease, and being sent on our way with no support, no nothing was really traumatic,\u201d she explained. \u201cIt\u2019s not just happening to us. This is how many people are receiving their diagnosis.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>From there, Heming Willis decided to do her own research about FTD \u2014 a rare form of dementia that affects only around one in 20 people with the condition.<\/p>\n<p>The model eventually found a way to move forward, speaking with experts about FTD and finding a community of people to talk to about becoming a caregiver.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEarly on, I was too scared to say anything to anyone. It felt like what was happening was only happening to us,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Over time, I realized it would be beneficial to talk about it and raise awareness so people get to the doctor sooner, can be diagnosed sooner, get into clinical trials.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Heming Willis previously opened up about the isolating nature of her husband\u2019s shocking diagnosis in an interview with Diane Sawyer on the ABC special <em>Emma &amp; Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey<\/em>. She said that when she stepped in to become Bruce\u2019s 24\/7 caregiver, she limited her daughters\u2019 activities in the house, such as playdates and sleepovers, which presented a different set of challenges to navigate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI didn\u2019t know if parents would feel comfortable leaving their child at our home, so, again, not only was I isolated, I isolated our whole family. You know, the girls were isolated too, and that was by design, I was doing that,\u201d Heming Willis explained.<\/p>\n<p>Willis\u2019s family recently made the decision to move the actor to his own one-story house near the main property.<\/p>\n<p>With her husband \u2014 to whom she has been married since 2009 \u2014 requiring \u201ca calm and serene atmosphere,\u201d Heming Willis told <em>People <\/em>the new home is more conducive to his needs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have two young children, and it was just important that they had a home that supported their needs and that Bruce could have a place that supported his needs&#8230; The kids can have playdates and sleepovers [again] and not have to walk around tiptoeing,\u201d Heming Willis said of the family\u2019s arrangement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEverything just feels a lot calmer, more at ease now.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it&#8217;s investigating the financials of Elon Musk&#8217;s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, &#8216;The A Word&#8217;, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more Bruce Willis\u2019s wife, Emma Heming Willis, has described the painful way she learned about her husband\u2019s dementia diagnosis. The 70-year-old actor\u2019s family announced in 2023 that he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), only a year after they said he was \u201cstepping away\u201d from acting because he had aphasia. Now, Heming Willis is reflecting on her husband&#8217;s health journey, recalling the shock she felt in November 2022 when a neurologist told her that he had FTD. \u201cI\u2019m sure the doctor was explaining what FTD is, [but] I couldn\u2019t hear a single thing,\u201d she said in a new interview with People. \u201cI had pins and needles going through my body. My ears were wafting. I\u2019m sure he was feeding us information but all I heard was just, \u2018Check back in and here\u2019s a pamphlet.\u2019\u201d Although Heming Willis was relieved to have an official diagnosis, she didn\u2019t know how to handle this news. Emma Heming Willis recalls shock of learning her husband Bruce had FTD (Getty Images) \u201cI was grateful to get a diagnosis, but there is no cur&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5465,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5464"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5464"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5464\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5465"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5464"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5464"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5464"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}