Former model Emma Heming Willis – wife of actor Bruce Willis – shares sadness and mixed emotions on the occasion of their 17th anniversary together amid Bruce’s battle with dementia.

Emma posted an old photo on Instagram from a holiday with her husband in Turks and Caicos, where the couple looked happy on the beach. The 46-year-old former model and actress wrote: “Our 17 years. Anniversaries used to be exciting. Now, to be honest, they stir up all sorts of emotions, leaving a heavy heart and a void in my heart. I spent 30 minutes sitting and thinking: ‘Why did this happen to him, why us?’, pouring out all the anger and grief.”

Bruce Willis and Emma Heming Willis in a commemorative photo.

Emma said, after a moment of silence to acknowledge her emotions, she shook it off and returned to reality. “And what I have is unconditional love. I feel lucky to have that, thanks to him. I could do it all again in every heartbeat.”

Emma received a lot of love and sympathy from her family and friends in the comments section. Bruce Willis’s stepdaughter with ex-wife Demi Moore, Tallulah Willis, 30, wrote: “I love you so much. You two are amazing!”

Bruce Willis and Emma Heming were married in 2009 in the Turks and Caicos Islands. They have two daughters together, Mabel Willis, 12, and Evelyn Willis, 10.

Bruce Willis and Emma Heming Willis had a peaceful, happy married life before the storm hit.

In early 2022, Bruce Willis was diagnosed with aphasia – a disease that forced the 69-year-old actor to retire early. In March 2023, his family announced that Bruce’s condition had progressed and he was diagnosed with a rare disease called frontotemporal dementia.

For the past two years, the Hollywood star has been living a happy life at home with his wife and children. His ex-wife and three grown daughters have also supported Emma and spent time with Bruce Willis.

Emma has admitted that she had to push the negative and gloomy thoughts out of her head amid her husband’s increasingly difficult battle with dementia. “I know it may seem to people that I’m living a great life. I have to make a conscious effort every day to live my life as best I can. I do it for myself, our two children and Bruce,” Emma said in an Instagram video last August.

Bruce Willis with his ex-wife, current wife, daughters and son-in-law.

She also shared about the solidarity of the extended family: “I am very grateful that we are a harmonious family. Everyone supports, loves and helps each other. A lot of people don’t have that.”