Bruce Willis' wife Emma Heming reveals 'heaviness in my heart' as they celebrate 17th anniversary

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Bruce Willis' wife, Emma Heming, got candid about her feelings about her husband's dementia battle as she took to Instagram to mark their anniversary on Sunday, December 29. 

The pair started dating in 2007 and tied the knot in 2009.

Sharing a throwback photo of herself with the 69-year-old retired actor, the British-American model wrote, "17 years of us ❤️ Anniversaries used to bring excitement — now, if I’m honest, they stir up all the feelings, leaving a heaviness in my heart and a pit in my stomach."

Emma Heming says she knows 'unconditional love' because of Bruce Willis

"I give myself 30 minutes to sit in the ‘why him, why us,’ to feel the anger and grief. Then I shake it off and return to what is. And what is… is unconditional love. I feel blessed to know it, and it’s because of him. I’d do it all over again and again in a heartbeat 💞," Emma Heming added in her emotional anniversary post. 

In late October, the 46-year-old spoke with Town & Country Magazine regarding Willis' health struggle and how she is coping with it.

She shared, "Today I’m much better than I was when we first received the FTD diagnosis. I’m not saying it’s any easier, but I’ve had to get used to what’s happening so that I can be grounded in what is, so that I can support our children." 

The couple share two children, Mabel Ray, 12, and Evelyn Penn, 10. 

"I’m trying to find that balance between the grief and the sadness that I feel, which can just crack open at any given moment, and finding joy," she noted.

Emma Heming is open with her children about Bruce Willis' dementia diagnosis

The mother of two further revealed that she has not hidden anything from their young children.

"This disease is misdiagnosed, it’s missed, it’s misunderstood, so finally getting to a diagnosis was key so that I could learn what fronto­temporal dementia is and I could educate our children. I’ve never tried to sugarcoat anything for them," she mentioned.

Heming added, "They’ve grown up with Bruce declining over the years. I’m not trying to shield them from it."

Fans send love to Emma Heming and Bruce Willis

Fans and followers took to the comments section of Emma Heming's anniversary post to offer their support. 

One commented, "Thank you for showing us unconditional love on a day where so many marriages only last a very short time, a blink of an eye." 

Another wrote, "The most beautiful example of love and class and dedication! I know it’s not even the slightest bit easy, but thank you for reminding the rest of the world there is so much power and magic in being strong and vulnerable and the same time. I’ll my love and light to you and your precious family!"

"Simply beautiful and thank you for sharing. May your daughters find the type of love you and Bruce share. Love you and thank you for all you do and are doing," a person expressed. 

"We are sad that this happened to you guys. Sad for all the families this disease has impacted 💔 Milestones can bring up so much. I completely relate… You’re not alone," another comment read. 

One more wrote, "Think about the example of pure, unconditional love you are giving to your daughters. ️ Congratulations on your anniversary from a daughter who is living the same experience and is so proud of my mom’s strength. They are so proud of you, I promise." 

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