After she appeared on TODAY to explain her husband Bruce Willis’ journey with frontotemporal dementia, Emma Heming Willis’ stepdaughters paid her emotional gratitude for being a “champion for this cause.”
One of Heming Willis’ three daughters with ex-wife Demi Moore, Scout Willis, lauded Heming Willis on September 25 in a post on her Instagram story. The article featured a video of Heming Willis chatting with Hoda Kotb before appearing on TODAY.
The 32-year-old posted on Instagram, “I genuinely could not be more proud of @emmahemingwillis of being willing to come out into the public eye, (even if it’s terrifying!!!) to share our family’s story in service to promoting awareness of FTD.
“Emma, you are such a champion for our cause, and I am inspired by your bravery and deep, deep love every single f—— day. #ftd #ftdawareness “Your courage is moving mountains.”
Tallulah Willis, 29, the younger sister of Scout Willis, sent a message from her sibling on her own Instagram account.
She added, “So proud of my family,” and included her stepmom in the mentions.
Heming Willis, 45, spoke with Hoda earlier in the day about their family’s existence ever since the adored action star’s frontotemporal dementia diagnosis earlier this year. The family revealed in March 2022 that Bruce Willis had been diagnosed with aphasia, which had an effect on his cognitive ability and caused him to give up performing.
Heming Willis remarked on TODAY that dementia is challenging. Both the diagnosed person and their family are affected negatively. And neither Bruce, myself, nor our girls are any different in this regard. It’s true what they say about this being a family sickness.
World FTD Awareness Week began with Heming Willis’ interview. Susan Dickinson, the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration’s CEO, accompanied her.
The blessing and the curse of accepting her husband’s illness, according to Heming Willis on TODAY, was coming to terms with it. It doesn’t make it any less difficult, but just knowing what happens to Bruce makes it a bit easier, according to the person who finally understood what was occurring.
With Bruce Willis, Heming Willis has two daughters: Evelyn Penn Willis, age 9, and Mabel Ray Willis, age 11.
She said to Hoda, “Listen, I think my kids would be fantastic no matter what but this is not what I would want for them. “But really, as I said, it’s teaching them so much — how to show affection and care — and it’s really a beautiful thing amid the sadness,” the author continued.