Emma Heming, wife of actor Bruce Willis who suffers from dementia, opened up about how their daughters are struggling to cope with their father’s condition.
In an interview with Vogue, Heming said that Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, are finding it especially painful as Willis continues to miss key moments in their lives.
“They miss their dad a lot. He’s missing important milestones. It’s hard for them. But the kids are resilient,” Emma shared.
Heming explained that Willis’ illness has forced him to be absent from many significant family events, especially as their daughters grow up. She added that the emotional toll has been profound for the entire family.
The actor’s wife also admitted she is unsure whether she and the children will ever “recover” from the experience of facing Bruce’s diagnosis. She said it’s painful to hear people discuss his dementia, as few truly understand what the family is going through behind closed doors.
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Emma clear-eyed and resolute in her mission: “This is bigger than Bruce, and it’s bigger than my story.” She highlights staggering statistics: the American Association of Retired Persons reports there are 63 million caregivers in the US, with more than 11 million caring for someone with dementia. In Australia, more than 1.7 million people take on this role. These are relative numbers in terms of population size, and however you carve up the numbers, it’s a lot.
Universally, much of the burden of caring for loved ones with dementia falls on women. Who are often forced to step back from their careers. Emma calls this “very inhumane and not sustainable.” Particularly for the sandwich generation who juggle children and parents with little or no support.
She’s learning to use her voice to advocate for these “unsupported, unseen” caregivers. And she hopes to take it all the way to Washington, D.C. to influence policy and raise awareness among physicians. Secure funding for research and provide additional infrastructure for caregiving support. After all, Bruce would say to her: “Go. Get out of your own way, Emma.”
