It was Bruce Willis’ 14th wedding anniversary with wife Emma Heming on Monday, and she marked the occasion with an emotional tribute to her husband.
As we’ve previously reported, Willis’ family announced the actor was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. He had previously been diagnosed with aphasia, a cognitive communication disorder.
“The veteran actor has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities,” their Instagram statement read at the time.
“As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him. This is a challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion, and support.”
They continued: “We are moving through this as a strong family unit, and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him. As Bruce always says, ‘Live it up’ and together we plan to do just that.”
Since his diagnosis, Willis’ extensive family have banded together around him, offering him as much love and support as possible. And since then, some happy news seemed to shine a light on the family.
Willis’s eldest daughter, Rumer, whom he shared with ex-wife Demi Moore, announced that she is expecting her first child with boyfriend Derek Richard Thomas.
“Still cant believe I am currently cooking a little person in my belly right now. I am so deeply grateful for the incredible lessons and gifts that have come my way this year. I’m so grateful this little soul chose me to have the privilege of being their mama,” she wrote on Insta.
This will be Willis’s first grandchild, and according to sources, the news made him all the more determined to fight off his aphasia symptoms.
A source close to the star told Radar Online: “He’s determined to stay coherent and lucid for as long as possible so his grandchild can have some happy memories of a grandfather who was present and active in his or her life. Bruce has never backed away from a challenge. He’s dead-set that this new baby is going to get the best he has to offer.”
Another source continued: “It seems he’s slipping further away from them, and it breaks their heart. It’s been painful to see him deteriorate. The older girls miss the old Bruce — the one who used to tease them about their boyfriends and give them unsolicited advice.”
Sadly, as hard as he’s tried, things have only gotten worse for the star. He has now been given another diagnosis.
His family announced in a statement that he has now been diagnosed with dementia: “As a family, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for the outpouring of love and compassion for Bruce over the past ten months,” they wrote, adding: “Your generosity of spirit has been overwhelming, and we are tremendously grateful for it. For your kindness, and because we know you love Bruce as much as we do, we wanted to give you an update. “
They continued: “Since we announced Bruce’s diagnosis of aphasia in spring 2022, Bruce’s condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD). Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis.”
Following this devastating news, Willis has spoken out publicly for the first time on his 68th birthday.
A video of the celebration was shared online, showing Willis talking and laughing surrounded by his family, while they all sang happy birthday to him.
His ex-wife Demi Moore captioned the sweet post: “Happy birthday, BW! So glad we could celebrate you today. Love you and love our family. Thank you to everyone for the love and warm wishes — we all feel them.”
Emma Heming also spoke out on Instagram, writing: “He is pure love. He is so loved. And I’ll be loving him always. Happy Birthday my sweet,” she wrote.
“My birthday wish for Bruce is that you continue to keep him in your prayers and highest vibrations because his sensitive Pisces soul will feel it.
“Thank you so much for loving and caring for him too.”
Following his birthday, Heming Willis posted a photo of a stunning arrangement of flowers on Tuesday, March 21. She included the source of the flowers in the description.
“Today marks 14 years of marriage to the greatest love of my life,” she wrote. “I woke with my heart full but what my mind kept going back to was another person’s act of kindness yesterday I wanted to share as it inspired the heck out of me.”
“In passing at a school event for our children, I mentioned to my friend that our anniversary was tomorrow. Cut to, I get a text from my friend later that day that said she left ‘a little something’ for me at my door,” she continued. “It was this sweet bouquet of flowers (pictured) with a note that said Happy Anniversary amongst other things.”
She wrote: “When usually our person would acknowledge the event, now their changing brains just can’t. And that is what it is.”
“So my point is this,” she continued. “If you know someone that is looking after someone else, don’t ask what you can do, just do. This random act of kindness will honestly stay with me for a long time. I love you Juliya. You singlehandedly made this day special for us.”
She also reposted a memory of her and Bruce’s 10th wedding anniversary, when they chose to reaffirm their vows in the same location as their wedding.
”On our 10th wedding anniversary we decided to renew our vows in the same place we said “I do” back in 2009,” she wrote.
”I’m so happy we did. Seize every opportunity to unite and celebrate with family and friends. Those are the moments and beautiful pockets of memories that you get to hold on to for a lifetime. And we get to keep those memories safe and alive for the ones that might not be able to.”
