Bruce Willis' wife struggles with feelings of guilt
Ever since it became known that Bruce Willis suffers from dementia, his family has been talking about his illness. Now his wife Emma Heming-Willis has written a long text about the situation and also mentions feelings of guilt. However, she does not feel guilty towards her husband.
It has been known since the beginning of the year that Hollywood star Bruce Willis has dementia. His family announced in February that the actor had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and have been demonstrating tireless solidarity ever since. The time before the announcement was not easy for them, but afterwards they felt great relief, explains wife Emma Heming-Willis. "After our family shared the news, I could breathe again," she writes in a blog entry for Maria Shriver's Sunday Paper.
"Suddenly I was no longer alone and I was able to seek the help that Bruce, I and our family desperately needed," the 45-year-old adds. Over the past few months, she has learned, among other things, how important it is to have a community. "Bruce's FTD diagnosis was devastating, but it explained so much of what we had been going through," Heming-Willis writes. "Having a specific diagnosis gives you a chance to find a community. You can connect with people who immediately understand your story. You don't have to explain yourself."
Today, the 45-year-old is much more hopeful than when she was first diagnosed. "I understand the disease better now and am connected to an incredible community of supporters," she writes. I have hope because I have found a new purpose - admittedly one I never would have looked for - and because I can use the spotlight to help and empower others. And I have hope that our whole family can find joy in the little things."
"Have resources that others don't have"
Her husband's diagnosis has also made her more compassionate, says Heming-Willis. She realizes "that I have more room for what others are going through. I feel both gratitude and sadness." There is "a lot of power in being an advocate for this community," she explains. "I want our children to see me come together with others and fight against the stigma and isolation that a disease like this can bring," she continues. Since her husband's diagnosis, the model has been tirelessly educating people about the disease, raising awareness and advocating for other FTD sufferers.
Nevertheless, she says she sometimes feels guilty. "I struggle with guilt because I know I have resources that others don't," she writes. "When I go for a hike to clear my head, I realize that other family caregivers can't do that. When our family's story gets media attention, I know there are thousands of untold stories, all deserving of compassion and concern." It's important to her to be an advocate for these families who don't "have the time, energy or resources to speak for themselves".
After the revelation of Bruce Willis's diagnosis with frontotemporal dementia, his celebrity status has been utilized to raise awareness about the condition. Heming-Willis, being a part of a famous couple, acknowledges her privilege and feels guilty for having resources that other caregivers do not have.
Despite the entertainment industry's attention to their situation, many other families affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias are overlooked and lacking in support. Bruce Willis's diagnosis has brought light to the importance of advocating for these unheard families, reducing the stigma, and addressing the isolation they often face.
Source: www.ntv.de
