Emma Heming Willis, the wife of Bruce Willis, has shared a poignant and emotional moment involving their nine-year-old daughter, who asked a heartbreaking question about her father’s dementia.
In March, the Willis family released a joint statement disclosing that the beloved actor had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) at the age of 68.
In their statement, the family expressed relief in finally having a clear diagnosis and highlighted Bruce’s commitment to using his voice to raise awareness about the disease.
Emma Heming Willis recently shed light on how their daughters are grappling with their father’s diagnosis.
Taking to her Instagram Stories, she recounted a touching anecdote to her over 800,000 followers. With a relaxed and candid demeanor, Emma shared that their nine-year-old daughter, Evelyn, asked a poignant question about her father’s illness.
Emma began, “So, I have to tell you this story… I’m gonna try and do it without crying because when Evelyn told me this story, I was an absolute puddle.” She then proceeded to recount the conversation, where Evelyn asked, “Did you know that people with dementia can become severely dehydrated?” Emma responded that she wasn’t aware of that fact.
Evelyn’s statement aligns with information from the Alzheimer’s Society, which explains that individuals with dementia can experience dehydration if they struggle to communicate their thirst or forget to drink. This can lead to various complications such as severe headaches and urinary tract infections.
Curious about how Evelyn obtained this knowledge, Emma asked her daughter. Evelyn replied, “Well, I was at school the other day, and I had some free time, and I was looking up fun facts about dementia.” Emma interjected, revealing that both Evelyn and Bruce have a fondness for random facts.
Emma assured Evelyn that they would always ensure that her father had a bottle of water on hand, expressing gratitude for her daughter’s insight. She emphasized that being curious and educating oneself about her dad’s disease is the most loving and compassionate thing Evelyn could do.
In a subsequent Instagram Story, Emma added that educating oneself about a loved one’s condition is crucial for caregivers, friends, and family members.
As the Willis family navigates the challenges of Bruce’s dementia diagnosis, Emma’s story about Evelyn’s compassionate question serves as a reminder of the power of curiosity, understanding, and empathy in supporting loved ones facing such diseases.
