Bruce Willis’ wife Emma Heming holds back tears as she celebrates her husband’s 68th birthday

Bruce Willis‘ wife Emma Heming held back tears as she celebrated her husband’s 68th birthday with an emotional message posted a month after his devastating dementia diagnosis.

In a video posted to her account on Sunday, Emma described feeling particularly sad as he marked another year around the sun.

Emma, 44, became emotional as she described making a reel for her husband – and called watching his videos ‘a knife in my heart.’

‘So today is my husband’s birthday,’ she began. ‘I have started the morning by crying. As you can see by my swollen eyes and snotty nose, I just think it’s important you see all sides of this. 

‘I always get this message or people always tell me like, “Oh you’re so strong, I don’t know how you do it.” I’m not given a choice. I wish I was. But I’m also raising two kids in this.

‘I’m really feeling it today on his birthday’: Bruce Willis’ wife Emma Heming held back tears as she celebrated her husband’s 68th birthday with an emotional message posted several weeks after his devastating dementia diagnosis

‘So sometimes in our lives we have to put our big girl panties on and get to it. And that’s what I’m doing. But I do have times of sadness every day. Grief everyday. And I’m really feeling it today on his birthday.’

She fought back tears in a second video describing the video she had been working on for Bruce.

‘So I worked on this reel that I’m posting for my husband’s birthday. I don’t know why I do that because the videos are like a knife in my heart. 

‘But as much as I do it for myself I do it for you. Because I know how much you love my husband and – don’t cry Emma – but it means so much to me so thank you.’

Hours later Emma shared the aforementioned reel, soundtracked by Stevie Wonder’s classic song As.

She wrote in the caption, ‘He is pure love. He is so loved. And I’ll be loving him always. Happy Birthday my sweet.’

The mother-of-two, who shares daughters Mabel, 10, and Evelyn, 8, with the actor, continued: ‘My birthday wish for Bruce is that you continue to keep him in your prayers and highest vibrations because his sensitive Pisces soul will feel it.’

She closed out the post with a token of gratitude as she said to her 684k followers, ‘Thank you so much for loving and caring for him too.’ 

Vulnerable: Emma became emotional as she described making a reel for her husband – and called watching his videos ‘a knife in my heart’ 

Tribute: Emma shared a reel dedicated to her husband, soundtracked by Stevie Wonder’s classic song As

The montage was filled with happy moments spent with their little girls, as well as Bruce’s older children.

The Die Hard sensation also shares Rumer, 34, Scout, 31, and Tallulah, 29, with ex-wife Demi Moore, to whom he was married from 1987–2000.

The recordings were ripe with intimate times shared on family beach vacations, birthday celebrations, and other milestones.

Last month Bruce’s family revealed the actor was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) – less than one year after he retired from acting due to his battle with the brain disorder aphasia.

The Hollywood icon withdrew from acting last year as he began his fight with the illness that caused his language abilities to deteriorate – and now his condition has ‘progressed’ according to a joint statement from his family.

FTD affects the lobes of the brain behind the forehead, which deal with behavior, problem-solving, planning and emotions – with symptoms including personality changes, obsessive behavior and speaking difficulties.  

The statement, from his wife Emma, ex-wife Demi, and five daughters read: ‘Our family wanted to start by expressing our deepest gratitude for the incredible outpouring of love, support and wonderful stories we have all received since sharing Bruce’s original diagnosis.

‘In the spirit of that, we wanted to give you an update about our beloved husband, father and friend since we now have a deeper understanding of what he is experiencing.

Flashback images: The montage was filled with happy moments spent with their little girls, as well as Bruce’s older children

‘Since we announced Bruce’s diagnosis of aphasia in spring 2022, Bruce’s condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD).

‘Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis.

‘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.

‘Today there are no treatments for the disease, a reality that we hope can change in the years ahead. 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.

‘Bruce always believed in using his voice in the world to help others, and to raise awareness about important issues both publicly and privately.

‘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.

‘Ours is just one family with a loved one who suffers from FTD, and we encourage others facing it to seek out the wealth of information and support available through AFTD (@theaftd, theaftd.org).

‘And for those of you who have been fortunate enough to not have any personal experience with FTD, we hope that you will take the time to learn about it, and support AFTD’s mission in whatever way you can.’

Reflective: In a video posted to her account on Sunday, Emma described feeling particularly sad as her husband marked another year around the sun