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Posted: 2023-09-25T16:22:34Z | Updated: 2023-09-25T16:22:34Z

Emma Heming Willis , the wife of actor Bruce Willis , gave an update on her husbands health in an emotional interview on Monday.

The Die Hard actor was diagnosed with aphasia in 2022, and the family revealed this year that Willis also has frontotemporal dementia .

Dementia is hard, Heming Willis said during an appearance on the Today show with Hoda Kotb. Its hard on the person diagnosed, its also hard on the family. And that is no different for Bruce, or myself, or our girls. And when they say that this is a family disease, it really is.

Heming Willis began to get emotional as she said it was both the blessing and the curse to finally figure out her husbands diagnoses.

It doesnt make it any less painful, but just being in the acceptance and just being in the know of what is happening to Bruce just makes it a little bit easier, the model said, appearing to hold back tears.

When Kotb asked if the actor was aware of his condition, Heming Willis said its hard to know.

Exclusive: In honor of World Frontotemporal Dementia Awareness week, Bruce Willis wife Emma Heming Willis speaks to @hodakotb about the condition in her first interview since his diagnosis.

It was the blessing and the curse, Emma said of receiving Bruces diagnosis. pic.twitter.com/VY5yhVjZIf

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Exclusive: In honor of World Frontotemporal Dementia Awareness week, Bruce Willis wife Emma Heming Willis speaks to @hodakotb about the condition in her first interview since his diagnosis.

It was the blessing and the curse, Emma said of receiving Bruces diagnosis. pic.twitter.com/VY5yhVjZIf

TODAY (@TODAYshow) September 25, 2023

But Heming Willis said she has ensured that the two children she shares with the actor Mabel, 11, and Evelyn, 9 know about their fathers diagnosis.

Were a very honest and open household, Heming Willis said, adding that it was important to explain the disease itself to them. When you know what the disease is from a medical standpoint, it sort of all makes sense.

She said she doesnt want there to be any stigma or shame attached to their dads diagnosis, or for any form of dementia.

Heming Willis, who calls herself her husbands care partner instead of caretaker, also said that Willis is still teaching his youngest kids so much, including patience, resilience and how to care and love.

Its a really beautiful thing amongst the sadness, she said. Bruce would really want us to be in the joy of what is.