Upon learning about her husband Bruce Willis’ symptoms in relation to his ongoing battle with dementia, model Emma Heming experienced a sense of panic.
Emma has been looking after the actor since the diagnosis of aphasia in March 2022, a condition affecting language processing and communication abilities.
In February, Willis’ diagnosis worsened to Frontotemporal dementia, which can cause various symptoms such as slowed movement, stiffness, balance problems, and changes in behavior or language.
During her “Make Time To Connect” YouTube series, Heming confessed, “I didn’t know where to go, what to look up, I’m looking things up and it’s freaking me out.” She also mentioned her relief upon finding stories of others dealing with similar situations.
Emma also expressed gratitude for the support the caregivers have provided for Willis throughout his diagnosis, emphasizing the connections made with other care partners.
Heming also acknowledged the challenges of dealing with her husband’s condition, admitting that it’s difficult to gauge his awareness of the situation and deteriorating health.
Emma shared her experience saying, “Dementia is hard. 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.”
Referring to herself as Willis’ “care partner,” Heming reflected on the mix of emotions upon learning of her husband’s diagnosis and the impact of understanding what was happening to him.
