Bruce Willis’ wife, Emma Heming Willis, has opened up about how she was left in tears after their young daughter asked her a question about her dad’s disease.
Back in March, the Willis family shared a joint statement revealing that the beloved actor, had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD) at the age of 68.
“While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis,” the family wrote at the time.
“Bruce always believed in using his voice in the world to help others, and to raise awareness about important issues both publicly and privately,” Emma explained. “We know in our hearts that – if he could today — he would want to respond by bringing global attention and a connectedness with those who are also dealing with this debilitating disease and how it impacts so many individuals and their families.”
Emma has since shared an insight to how the couple’s daughters are also coming to terms with the diagnosis.
Taking to her Instagram Stories on Monday (May 22), Emma said to her 800,000+ followers: “So, I have to tell you this story…”
Speaking in a relaxed and candid video, the mom – who shares two children with the Die Hard star, as well as being stepmom to Bruce’s daughters Rumer, Tallulah, and Scout – revealed that nine-year-old Evelyn asked her a heartbreaking question regarding her father’s disease.
“I’m gonna try and do it without crying because when Evelyn told me this story, I was an absolute puddle,” the mom says. “Ok, here we go.
“So Evelyn says to me the other day, ‘Did you know that people with dementia can become severely dehydrated?’
Young Evelyn is correct here, with the Alzheimer’s Society revealing that people with dementia are susceptible to becoming dehydrated “if they’re unable to communicate or recognize that they’re thirsty, or if they forget to drink”. This can lead to severe headaches, UTIs, and other more dangerous implications.
Emma then asked how Evelyn knew that fact, adding: “She says, ‘Well, I was at school the other day and she said, and I had some free time and I was looking up fun facts about dementia.'”
“So I said to her, I said, ‘Ok, Evelyn, we will always make sure that daddy has a bottle of water in hand. Thank you for letting me know.'”
The doting mom and wife continued: “And I said, ‘But, you know, that is the most loving and compassionate thing that you can do is to be curious and educate yourself on your dad’s disease.'”
Last month, Bruce was seen celebrating the 11th birthday of his second-youngest daughter, Mabel Ray.
The heartwarming snapshots showed the little girl and her father throughout the years – right from when she was a baby to the present day.
