Bruce Willis’ wife Emma Heming fights back TEARS as she opens up about the actor’s brutal struggle with dementia – admitting it’s ‘hard to know’ if he’s even aware of what’s happening to him

Bruce Willis’ wife Emma Hemming has admitted it’s ‘hard to know’ whether or not the Hollywood actor is aware of his brain illness.

In February of this year, Emma announced that the 68-year-old star had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) – an uncommon type of the disease that causes a deterioration in behavior, personality and language.  

Speaking to Hoda Kotb on Monday’s edition of Today, Emma, 45, fought back tears as she gave an update on Bruce’s ‘hard’ condition and said that just being in the know ‘makes it a little bit easier’.

When Hoda asked how Bruce is doing, Emma took a deep breath and replied: ‘What I’m learning is that dementia is hard. 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,’ she said, referring to the two young daughter she shares with Bruce.

Bruce Willis, pictured here in 2019, has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD)

Emma said it’s ‘hard to know’ if Bruce is aware of what is happening to him

When asked how she went about explaining his illness to their children, Emma explained: ‘I think it’s always been… we’re a very honest and open household. 

‘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.

‘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 mother-of-two Hoda asked: ‘Does he know what’s going on? Is that something he’s aware of?’ Emma paused before responding: ‘Hard to know.’

She went on to explain how it felt coming to terms with the diagnosis, and said: ‘I think it was the blessing and the curse. You know, to sort of finally understand what was happening so that I can be into the acceptance of what is.

‘It doesn’t make it any less painful, but just being in the acceptance and just being in the know of what happening to Bruce just makes it a little bit easier.

‘There is so many beautiful things happening in our lives. It is just really important for me to look up from the grief and the sadness so that I can see what is happening around us,’ Emma added. 

In a particularly touching moment, Hoda asked Emma what she thinks Bruce is teaching their girls as they all come to terms with his illness as a family.

‘Honestly, he is the gift that keeps on giving. Love, patience, resilience, so much…’ Emma said.

‘And he’s teaching me and our whole… I mean, you know, for me to be out here doing this, this is not my comfort zone, but this is the power of Bruce.’