Bruce Willis’ wife Emma Heming Willis will not “shield” the realities of his condition, Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), from their young children.

Wednesday, October 30, 2024, 9:00 a.m

Wednesday, October 30, 2024, 9:00 a.m

Bruce Willis’ wife will not “shield” the realities of his condition from their young children.

The ‘Die Hard’ actor’s wife Emma Heming Willis was relieved when she finally received a definitive diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) two years ago so she could ‘educate’ 12-year-old Mabel years, and 10-year-old Evelyn, about their father’s struggles, and she won’t “cover” any of the realities for them.

She told Town and Country magazine: “This disease is misdiagnosed, it’s missed, it’s misunderstood, so finally getting a diagnosis was essential to being able to learn what frontotemporal dementia is and to be able to educate our children .

“I’ve never tried to wrap anything up for them. They’ve grown up with Bruce in decline over the years. I’m not trying to shield them from that.”

Emma has made her children aware that “Daddy is not going to get better”, but is determined that the disease will not “take down” their whole family.

She said: “What I learned from our therapist was that if children ask questions, they are ready to find out the answer. If we could see that Bruce was fighting, I would bring up the issue of the children, so that they would understand, but this disease. it is chronic, progressive and terminal.

“Obviously, I don’t like to talk about the terminal part of it with them, and they didn’t even ask. They know daddy won’t get better.

“There’s no cure, which is why I’m there to raise awareness, for them to see that we have agency in this. I will not allow FTD to destroy our entire family. Bruce wouldn’t want to. They’re going to see me fight for our family, have some hope and help the next family.”

Emma announced the news of Bruce’s diagnosis in a joint statement with his ex-wife Demi Moore and their three grown-up daughters Rumer, Scout and Tallulah, and the 46-year-old model is getting goosebumps at the thought at the response they received and she is proud of the lessons her children can learn.

She said: “It’s not the opportunity I would have wanted, but it’s the opportunity that has been presented.

“I wanted him to see us come out with our family statement and it gives me goosebumps to think how he was received with so much love and compassion.

“We were able to raise awareness on a global scale, and they were able to see the reach and impact their dad is having. It’s a beautiful thing.”

And Emma is grateful for the support of Demi and her daughters.

She said: “The family respects the way I look after him; they really support me. If I need to vent, if I need to cry, if I need to get angry—because all of that can happen and it’s okay to have those feelings—I’m always there to listen.

“I am so thankful that we are this blended family. They are very supportive, very loving and very helpful, and a lot of people don’t have that.”