Bruce Willis’ Wife Emma Cried on ‘Hard’ Anniversary Amid Actor’s Dementia Diagnosis

‘My love and adoration for him only grows,’ Emma Heming Willis said about Bruce Willis, while adding that community has been her ‘lifeline’ following his dementia diagnosis

As Bruce Willis lives with dementia, he can count on the unwavering love and support of his wife and care partner Emma Heming Willis. For the anniversary of when they met, she recently shared some sweet moments between the pair — and also got candid about how “hard” holidays and anniversaries can be following his diagnosis.

“16 years with this special man. My love and adoration for him only grows,” Emma wrote as the caption to the images of the pair embracing amid beautiful greenery and sunshine. The couple met in 2007 and wed in 2009. Bruce and Emma share two daughters: Mabel, 11, and Evelyn, 9. (He is also father to daughters Rumer, 35, Scout, 32, and Tallulah, 29, with ex Demi Moore.)

In an Instagram Story, she addressed the complex emotions brought on by the milestone. “How do I really feel about today? How do I look? This about sums it up,” Emma said.

“I just got off the phone with a really dear girlfriend of mine who I was able to have a good cry with. It is really important to be able to have someone that you can trust with your feelings instead of just bottling them up and putting your best foot forward and just kind of soldiering through stuff, which I have a tendency to do,” she continued. “But, you know, holidays are hard, anniversaries are hard. But for me this year has been really about community, building a community, and connection. I just want to say that has been my lifeline and I just want to thank you for that.”

In August, she discussed the challenges of being a care partner. “I don’t want it to be misconstrued that, like, I’m good. Because I’m not. I’m not good,” she said in one video. “But I have to put my best foot forward for the sake of myself and my family.”

The Emmy-winning star’s family announced in February that he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

“Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces,” they wrote in an Instagram statement. “While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis.”