Bruce Willis’s wife experienced a variety of emotions on the actor’s birthday, weeks after the family revealed his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis.
The “Pulp Fiction” star turned 68 on Sunday.
“Today is one of those days feeling the pain and sadness”Emma Heming Willis, 44, wrote on Instagram. “But the positive side or the other side of the coin is that I am very lucky to feel her warmth and love for my husband and our family. I see your posts, your stories that you share, and all I can say is thank you.”
He continued, “Your connection helps me and I hope it helps you a little bit to know that I see you and also deeply understand your journey.”
Willis stopped acting last year after being diagnosed with aphasia, a cognitive disorder that can affect a person’s ability to communicate.
Last month, Willis’s family announced that the condition had progressed to frontotemporal dementia, which can affect a person’s behavior, among other symptoms. There is currently no treatment.
“Unfortunately, the challenges with communication are just one symptom of the illness Bruce is facing,” the family said in their announcement. “While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis.”
Willis is known for movies like “Die Hard,” “Unbreakable,” “Armageddon,” and “Red.” The action star married Heming Willis, a Maltese-born model, in 2009 and has 8- and 10-year-old daughters with her. He also has three adult daughters from his previous marriage to actress Demi Moore.
