Rumer Willis recently shared an update on her father, Bruce Willis. She spoke on her Instagram Stories. Bruce is battling frontotemporal dementia (FTD). He was diagnosed three years ago.
Rumer acknowledged the difficulty of answering how Bruce is doing. She said anyone with FTD “is not doing great.” However, she added, “he’s doing OK” considering his condition. Rumer is focused on a new perspective. She feels the usual parameters of “great” don’t apply anymore.
The most important thing for Rumer is gratitude. She is thankful she can still hug her father. “I’m so happy and grateful that I still get to go and hug him,” she shared. Even if he doesn’t recognize her sometimes, she feels the love. “He can feel the love I’ve given him,” she explained. Rumer sees a “spark of him” still.
Bruce is also bonding with his granddaughter, Louetta, 2. Rumer appreciates this connection. She is grateful to spend time with her father and daughter together. This time allows her to “feel the love that he has for me.” The family remains unified and supportive. They focus on creating loving moments together. FTD causes the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes to shrink. This damage affects personality, behavior, and language. There is currently no cure for the progressive disorder.
This update follows recent comments from Bruce’s wife, Emma Heming Willis. Emma shared how their younger daughters, Mabel and Evelyn, are coping. She told Vogue Australia that the girls are “doing well, all things considered.” Still, it is a hard process. “They grieve. They miss their dad so much,” Emma said. Bruce is missing key milestones, which is tough. Emma noted that they are all learning and building resilience as they navigate this journey.
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