Bruce Willis’ wife Emma Heming Willis admitted feeling “guilty” that they were able to afford “resources” that others would not be able to pay for, following the actor’s dementia diagnosis.
The Whole Nine Yards star officially retired from acting last year after his family issued a statement revealing he had been diagnosed with the brain condition aphasia, which causes the patient’s language abilities to deteriorate.
They gave a further update in March when they shared the devastating news that his illness had “progressed” and he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
Now in an op-ed for Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper, Heming Willis spoke about her “struggle with guilt” over being unable to help everyone caring for those with FTD.
The businesswoman, who founded skincare brand CocoBaba, wrote: “I struggle with guilt, knowing that I have resources that others don’t.
“When I’m able to get out for a hike to clear my head, it’s not lost on me that not all care partners can do that.
“When what I share about our family’s journey gets press attention, I know that there are many thousands of untold, unheard stories, each of them deserving of compassion and concern.”
The former model wed Willis in 2009, and shares two daughters, Mabel, 11, and Evelyn, 9, with the star.
Despite her sadness at not being able to help everyone with the disease, she explained that she hopes the family’s transparency with his health will help others with the same diagnosis “feel seen and understood”.
Adding: “I see that what I share matters to others who may be struggling, and in a small way makes them feel seen and understood. I want people to know that when I hear from another family affected by FTD, I hear our family’s same story of grief, loss, and immense sadness echoed in theirs.”
Earlier this month, The Pulp Fiction star’s Tallulah Willis said it was important to spread awareness, so that’s why they keep talking about it during a recent appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show.
She shared: “I think it’s twofold. On one hand, it’s who we are as a family, but also, it’s really important for us to spread awareness about FTD...
“If we can take something that we’re struggling with as a family, and individually, to help other people, to turn it around, to make something beautiful about it, that’s really special for us.
“And part of what’s been a really beautiful way for me to heal through this is becoming like an archaeologist to my dad's stuff – his world – to his little trinkets and doo-dahs.”
Tallulah is the youngest daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce – who also share Rumer, 35, and Scout, 32. The former couple were married from 1987 until their divorce in 2000.
