Two weeks after the Willis family announced Bruce’s frontotemporal dementia diagnosis, Emma Heming Willis shared a sweet throwback video on her Instagram Story on Wednesday featuring her husband and part of the caption reading, “My #1 fan.”
In the video, Bruce is helping to promote Emma’s body care brand Cocobaba, saying, “USA Weekly interview with Emma Heming Willis, founder and CEO of CocoBaba.”
She replies, “How ‘bout it?” to which he says, “How ‘bout it? I’m crazy about it.”
Below the video, she wrote a caption, “What’s this new Memory thingy on [Instagram]!? Omg my biggest fan. I’m in love with him.”
Bruce was diagnosed with aphasia last March and announced he’d be stepping away from acting. As it progressed, his diagnosis became clearer and earlier this year, the family announced he has frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) states that FTD “represents a group of brain disorders caused by degeneration of the frontal and/or temporal lobes of the brain,” adding, “The progression of symptoms – in behavior, language, and/or movement – varies by individual, but FTD brings an inevitable decline in functioning. The length of progression varies from 2 to over 20 years. As the disease progresses, the person affected may experience increasing difficulty in planning or organizing activities. They may behave inappropriately in social or work settings, and have trouble communicating with others, or relating to loved ones.”
Emma’s recent Instagram post came just a few days after she shared she has been working with a dementia specialist.
“I’m grateful I had the opportunity to work with @teepasnows_pac who has helped me add to my dementia care toolbox,” she captioned a photo on Instagram of her standing with their specialist, Teepa Snow. “She’s a loving, compassionate and skilled leader in this space who navigates herself with pure empathy. She’s a gift.”
Snow commented on the post showing her support for the family.
“@emmahemingwillis has done an absolutely remarkable job of providing the right support for Bruce as his abilities have changed and created a place, space and life that continues to provide him with what he needs to live well,” she wrote. “Frontotemporal dementia is never easy but with the right programming and support, it truly is possible to continue living life. Congrats to Emma and their entire family for their very very hard work and dedication. It is truly remarkable!”
The Willis/Moore family has expressed that they want the news of his diagnosis to serve as more of an educational opportunity for people who are less familiar with the condition.
“Bruce always believed in using his voice in the world to help others, and to raise awareness about important issues both publicly and privately,” they wrote in a statement in February. “We know in our hearts that – if he could today – he would want to respond by bringing global attention and a connectedness with those who are also dealing with this debilitating disease and how it impacts so many individuals and their families.”
AFTD’s website has many resources and methods of helping further their research, as well as giving support to victims and family members of those diagnosed with the incurable disease.
“Donations drive every aspect of AFTD’s work, sustaining and expanding our programs to provide support, education, and resources to people navigating a diagnosis, while advancing research to bring forward treatments and a cure,” according to AFTD’s website.
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