Bruce Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2022. His health has since deteriorated, and now, he lives full-time with caregivers. His wife, Emma Heming Willis, has been very open about Bruce’s diagnosis. Now, she shared a heartbreaking reflection on how they navigated his dementia for Christmas.
Ever since Bruce Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, his wife, Heming Willis, has been open with sharing the struggles her husband is going through, but also how they as a family feel. Now, as Christmas arrives, the 47-year-old writes on her blog about the struggles her family has faced over the holidays.
Emma penned down a reflection of feeling sadness while navigating her husband’s dementia. She acknowledged that the holidays “look different” now, adding that they have had to plan in a whole different way.
She began her blog post, “The holidays have a way of holding up a mirror, reflecting who we’ve been, who we are, and what we imagined they would be. When you’re caring for someone with dementia, that reflection can feel especially poignant. Traditions that once felt somewhat effortless require planning- lots of planning. Moments that once brought uncomplicated joy may arrive tangled in a web of grief. I know this because I’m living it. Yet despite that, there can still be meaning. There can still be warmth. There can still be joy. I’ve learned that the holidays don’t disappear when dementia enters your life. They change.”