Bruce Willis’ family is feeling “grief and sadness” on the actor’s first birthday since revealing his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis.
Emma Heming Willis posted an emotional Instagram Reel on Sunday in honor of her husband’s 68th birthday.
“The silver lining or the flip side is that I’m so lucky to feel your warmth and love that is directed to my husband and our family,” she captioned the post in part.
“I see your messages, your stories that you share, and all I can say is thank you. Your connection helps me and I hope it helps you in a small way to know that I see you and I deeply understand your journey as well💞.”
In the video, Emma, 44, explained that she “started the morning by crying” – as fans could see from her “swollen eyes” and “snotty” nose.
“I just think it’s important that you see all sides of this. I always get this message, or people always tell me, ‘Oh, you’re so strong. I don’t know how you do it.’ I’m not given a choice,” she admitted, noting that she’s putting on her “big girl panties” to be strong for her and Bruce’s two young kids, Mabel, 10, and Evelyn, 8.
“I do have times of sadness, every day, grief every day, and I’m really feeling it today on his birthday.”
Emma went on to note that putting together the birthday tribute video for Bruce – who also shares daughters Rumer, 34, Scout, 31, and Tallulah Willis, 29, with ex-wife Demi Moore – felt “like a knife” in her heart.
“But as much as I do it for myself I do it for you, because I know how much you love my husband,” she added, telling herself, “Don’t cry, Emma.”
In her own post, Scout admitted that celebrating her dad’s birthday on Sunday was filled with emotions.
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“Happy birthday to one of my best friends, the Pisces king, the master of duality, both action hero icon and gentle girl dad. What a privilege to have this man as my father and learn so much about life, joy, mischief and art through him,” she wrote via Instagram.
“Today is not necessarily an easy day, because it’s a day full of so deep love, and our grief really does show us the depth of our loving for someone. So I’m trying to be with both today,” she continued.
“Grief is a price I’ll always pay to know what it is to feel such love. I’m sending my love to anyone who has ever felt the capacity stretched by the enormity of love and humanness of grief. I love you.”
Tallulah also took to Instagram to gush over her “numero uno Bruno” on his birthday.
“Feeling awash with all the good energies and love headed this Willis way!” she added. “I love him and he loves me – what a delight!”
As Page Six previously reported, Bruce’s family announced the actor was diagnosed with dementia in February – nearly one year after his battle with aphasia was revealed.
“While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis,” the family said in a statement shared on the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration website.
“FTD is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and can strike anyone. For people under 60, FTD is the most common form of dementia, and because getting the diagnosis can take years, FTD is likely much more prevalent than we know.”
The statement went on to say that the “Die Hard” star would want to bring “global attention and connectedness” to others suffering from the “debilitating disease” if he “could” respond to the situation.
“Today there are no treatments for the disease, a reality that we hope can change in the years ahead,” the statement continued.
“As Bruce’s condition advances, we hope that any media attention can be focused on shining a light on this disease that needs far more awareness and research.”
