Emma Heming Says the Holiday Season Is “Hard But Joyous” Despite Challenges
As the festive season approaches, Emma Heming Willis has opened up about how her family is navigating holidays while coping with Bruce Willis’s dementia diagnosis. According to interviews at the End Well 2025 conference, she described their celebrations now as “different,” yet still filled with love, laughter and meaning.
Adjusting Traditions, Finding Joy
- Emma acknowledged that for families dealing with dementia, holidays “can be so hard,” but emphasized that “there is still joy in it.”
- She said, “It’s joyous. It’s just different,” adding that their family has “adapted” how they celebrate — honoring traditions while making space for flexibility and compassion.
- One tradition they’re holding on to: watching Die Hard — a nod to Bruce’s past and a beloved holiday ritual. “Bruce loved Christmas and we love celebrating it with him,” Emma said.
Understanding Dementia: The Challenges Beneath the Surface
- The family previously revealed that Bruce was diagnosed with aphasia in 2022, which later advanced to Frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
- Coping with dementia involves difficult emotional and practical adjustments — communication difficulties, memory loss, and unpredictability can strain relationships and routines. Yet, Emma stressed the importance of focusing on presence and simple moments.
- Rather than letting dementia define their lives, the family is embracing a slower, more mindful approach: “Life goes on. It just goes on … dementia is hard, but there is still joy in it.”
A Message of Hope and Realism
Emma’s openness — about struggle, adaptation, and love — sends a powerful message to families everywhere dealing with dementia. While acknowledging the hardship, she refuses to let dementia erase the beauty of shared time and memories.
“Being present with him — that is the joy,” she said.
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