Bruce Willis and his wife, Emma Heming Willis, celebrated a milestone in their marriage this week.
Highlighting 15 years of marriage, the former model took to Instagram on March 21 to issue a loving tribute to her husband, who was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) last year.
“Today marks our 15th wedding anniversary! And today, I can make a choice. I can wallow in sorrow or I can celebrate it. I call this the ’remarkable reframe.’” Ms. Heming Willis, 45, captioned alongside a photo of the two sharing a kiss.
“What I know is there is so much to celebrate. Our union and connection is probably stronger than ever. We have two bright, fun and healthy daughters. We have a family unit that is built on mutual respect and admiration,” she wrote. “And simply, I just love and adore the man I married. I’m so proud of what we have and continue to create. So, happy crystal anniversary to us!”
The couple wed on March 21, 2009, later welcoming two children, Mabel and Evelyn, in 2012 and 2014, respectively, per People. Mr. Willis also shares three daughters—Rumer, 35; Scout, 32; and Tallulah, 30—with his ex-wife, actress Demi Moore. Ms. Moore, 61, and the actor remained close after their divorce in 2000.
Last year, Ms. Heming Willis revealed the couple, who met in 2007, had marked their 10th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows in an intimate ceremony held in Turks and Caicos, where they originally walked down the aisle.
“I’m so happy we did,” Ms. Heming Willis captioned on Instagram alongside a video of the memorable experience.
“Seize every opportunity to unite and celebrate with family and friends,” she noted. “Those are the moments and beautiful pockets of memories that you get to hold on to for a lifetime. And we get to keep those memories safe and alive for the ones that might not be able to.”
Bruce Willis Celebrates 69th Birthday
In addition to commemorating 15 years of marriage this week, the award-winning actor celebrated his 69th birthday on March 19.
In a post shared to Instagram, accompanied by a picture of Mr. Willis holding a baby, his wife wrote: “Just like you, we simply adore him. What you might not know, but maybe you could imagine, that being wrapped in his arms is the safest place in this whole wide world.”
She continued: “He’s a true gentle-man. With so much love to give and share. That’s what I get to see, his true core. I can tell you, it’s so pure and ever so good. Happy Birthday my love. You are the gift that keeps giving.”
Mr. Willis’s eldest daughter also took to the social media platform to pen a tribute to her father. “Oh Daddio, to be loved by you is such a gift. You are the funniest, most tender, charming, out of this world silly talented and magical papa,” she wrote.
In Ms. Scout Willis’s celebratory post, she called her father a “tender, moody, beautiful, very Piscean man.”
“My dad is one of my best friends, perhaps now on a deeper level than ever honestly,” she wrote. “I cherish his affection and the immense freedom with which he’s always loved us.”
Ms. Moore also shared a message with her Instagram followers. “We love you and are so grateful for you,” she wrote.
Frontotemporal Dementia Diagnosis
In March 2022, Mr. Willis’s family revealed on social media that the “Die Hard” actor was stepping away from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, a disorder that affects communication.
However, in February of last year, it was announced that Mr. Willis’s condition had progressed and that he had been diagnosed with FTD, a rare group of brain diseases that predominantly affect the frontal and temporal lobes, per the Mayo Clinic.
“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,” Ms. Heming Willis shared on Instagram at the time.
Symptoms of FTD are progressive and include behavior changes like loss of empathy and lack of judgment, language disruptions, such as trouble writing or speaking, and movement conditions, which can include tremors, muscle spasms, and difficulty walking.
Due to its symptoms, FTD is sometimes misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or mental health conditions like depression, according to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration. Currently, there is no known cure for the disorder.