While a guest on The Drew Barrymore Show, Tallulah Willis, daughter of legendary actor Bruce Willis, is sharing more about her father’s health.
Bruce and his family first revealed he was diagnosed with aphasia in 2022. As a result of the diagnosis and its symptoms, Bruce made the difficult decision to step away from acting.
Tallulah Willis (@buuski) shares why her family has decided to be so open about her father Bruce Willis' disease. pic.twitter.com/mNqgPEhGAu
— The Drew Barrymore Show (@DrewBarrymoreTV) November 8, 2023
“Since we announced Bruce’s diagnosis of aphasia in spring 2022, Bruce’s condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD). 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.”
While speaking with Barrymore, Tallulah shared that despite the diagnosis and the fear of the future, her father “is the same, which I think in this regard I’ve learned is the best thing you can ask for. I see love when I’m with him, and it’s my dad and he loves me, which is really special.”
During this time, Tallulah shared that her family has coped by becoming archaeologists. She explained, “Part of what’s been a really beautiful way for me to heal through this is becoming like an archeologist to my dad’s world, to his little trinkets and doo-dads.”
Tallulah Willis (@buuski) opens up about growing up in the public eye. pic.twitter.com/GbavKPk5qr
— The Drew Barrymore Show (@DrewBarrymoreTV) November 8, 2023
And as a result, the family has made a decision to be open about their journey through this. “If we can take something that we’re struggling with as a family to help other people, to turn it around to make something beautiful about it, that’s really special for us.”
They also are inspired to spread awareness around frontotemporal dementia.
As the family continued in their original statement, the Willis and Moore family described FTD as “a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and can strike anyone. For people under 60, FTD is the most common form of dementia, and because getting the diagnosis can take years, FTD is likely much more prevalent than we know.”
“Today there are no treatments for the disease, a reality that we hope can change in the years ahead. As Bruce’s condition advances, we hope that any media attention can be focused on shining a light on this disease that needs far more awareness and research.”
And that’s exactly what Bruce would do with his own voice, if he could. “Bruce always believed in using his voice in the world to help others, and to raise awareness about important issues both publicly and privately. We know in our hearts that – if he could today — he would want to respond by bringing global attention and a connectedness with those who are also dealing with this debilitating disease and how it impacts so many individuals and their families.”
