Bruce Willis "is still the same"
Since it became known at the beginning of the year that Bruce Willis suffers from dementia, the Hollywood actor has completely withdrawn from the public eye. The only updates are from his family, such as now from his daughter Tallulah. The 29-year-old even has something positive to report.
In February this year, Bruce Willis' family had to announce the devastating news that the star was suffering from a rare form of dementia. He had already had to retire from acting almost a year earlier. Since then, his loved ones have repeatedly provided updates on Willis' condition, including his daughter Tallulah. As a guest on "The Drew Barrymore Show", she explained why her family is dealing with the matter so openly and that she can even say something positive about her father's condition.
"He's still the same," Tallulah Willis told host Barrymore, adding, "In this case, I've learned that it's the best thing you can ask for. I recognize love when I'm with him. He's my dad and he loves me - that's really special."
She says it is important to her family to use her father's fate for the common good by raising public awareness of the disease. "Taking something that we have to deal with as a family, turning it around and helping other people with it is very important to us."
This is a "family illness"
In September, Willis' wife Emma Heming-Willis also spoke about her sick husband. In the US television program "The Today Show", she said that it was "hard to know" whether her husband was even aware of his illness. It is "hard for the person diagnosed", but "also hard for the family. When they say it's a family disease, it is," Heming-Willis said.
"Frontotemporal dementia is a rather rare form of dementia," explained neuroscientist and memory world champion Dr. Boris Nikolai Konrad regarding the star's condition. "It is caused by damage to the brain and, as the name suggests, specifically in the frontal and temporal lobes. These brain regions are located directly behind the forehead and are very important for our personality, speech, movement and consciousness, among other things."
Despite the challenges, Tallulah Willis continues to find joy in her father's presence, stating, "He's still the same. I recognize love when I'm with him. He's my dad and he loves me - that's really special." This openness about Bruce Willis' condition has led Tallulah and her family to advocate for raising awareness about dementia in Hollywood and beyond.
Recognizing the impact of Bruce Willis' diagnosis on their entire family, Emma Heming-Willis shared her sentiments on "The Today Show," stating, "When they say it's a family disease, it is. It's hard for the person diagnosed, but it's also hard for the family."
Source: www.ntv.de
