"When you over-care for someone, you end up under-caring for yourself," said Heming.
Taking care of someone sick is no easy feat. So, when Bruce Willis was diagnosed with aphasia, Emma Heming, his wife of 13 years, knew she had to 'step in' and take care of her husband.
Ahead of his diagnosis being announced, the actor suffered from cognitive impairments and had trouble remembering his lines, a source told Page Six. The insider added, “Everybody knew, the cast and crew. His family has stepped in, they moved in to take care of him.” The source mentioned that it was becoming "increasingly difficult" to have him on the screen and that the production was using a body double at times for maximizing his screen time.
On March 30, 2022, the 67-year-old actor's family announced that he would be retiring from acting due to his condition. "To Bruce's amazing supporters, as a family, we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities," they shared, in a statement on Instagram, per PEOPLE. "As a result of this and with much consideration, Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him," the caption added.
After the announcement was made, a source told PEOPLE that the diagnosis has "been hard for" Emma, 43, as "it's not easy seeing a spouse's health decline." The insider said "Emma has to keep it together" for Evelyn, 7, and Mabel, 10, the couple's daughters.
Mentioning that Emma "is working with several professionals to help" her husband, and "has arranged for him to see the best doctors," the source shared, "He has an assistant at home to ensure he is safe, but Emma takes care of him too."
"Because Bruce is older than Emma, they knew that his health might decline sooner than hers. Still, his diagnosis has been shocking for her," the insider added.
Heming spoke about navigating family life in an interview with The Bump in May 2022. She admitted that it has been difficult to maintain a self-care routine. "I put my family's needs above my own, which I found does not make me any kind of hero. That amount of care for everyone else within my household had taken a toll on my mental health and overall health," she said.
"Someone told me not long ago that when you over-care for someone, you end up under-caring for yourself. That stopped me in my tracks and resonated with me," she added. Acknowledging that she was not taking good care of herself amid all of this upheaval, she mentioned that it is time to fulfill some of her basic needs like exercise.
As Heming remains by her husband helping him navigate through his diagnosis, she does not fail to notice the importance of family in her life. "For us as a family it’s always been about making memories. I’m not even sure we have rituals or traditions. We just love spending time with each other and we know that time is precious, and I don’t take that for granted," she said.
References:
https://pagesix.com/2022/03/30/bruce-willis-had-cognitive-issues-on-recent-sets/
https://people.com/health/bruce-willis-has-aphasia-stepping-away-from-acting/
https://www.thebump.com/a/emma-heming-willis-beauty-mom-advice
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Theo Wargo
