"This is a family disease"

Exclusive: In honor of World Frontotemporal Dementia Awareness week, Bruce Willis’ wife Emma Heming Willis speaks to @hodakotb about the condition in her first interview since his diagnosis.

“It was the blessing and the curse,” Emma said of receiving Bruce’s diagnosis. pic.twitter.com/VY5yhVjZIf

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) September 25, 2023

“What I’m learning is that dementia is hard,” Emma said, according to Daily Mail. “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. And when they say that this is a family disease, it really is.” …

“And, the most important thing was to be able for us to say what the disease was, explain what it is because when you know what the disease is from a medical standpoint it sort of all makes sense,” she continued. “So it was important that we let them know what it is because, you know, I don’t want there to be any stigma or shame attached to their dad’s diagnosis, or for any form of dementia.”

When asked if Bruce is aware that he has dementia, Emma paused before admitting that it is “hard to know.”

[Heartbreaking, especially given all of the joy and entertainment Bruce Willis has given us over the last 40 years. I’ll be praying for him and the family. — Ed]