Bruce Willis' 9-Year-Old Daughter Makes Heartwarming Effort to Learn About Dementia
Bruce Willis' family never fails to show how much they support him through his health journey.
Even the actor's youngest child Evelyn, 9, is doing what she can at her age to learn more about her father's diagnosis, which her mother and Bruce's wife, Emma Heming Willis, talked about in a recent Instagram video.
The 44-year-old uploaded a series of clips on May 22 sharing a few details about caregiving, and opened up with a story about what the couple's daughter has been doing in an attempt to help out.
“I have to tell you this story, and I’m going to try and do it without crying because when Evelyn told me this story, I was an absolute puddle,” Heming Willis opened.
The mom-of-two, who also shares daughter Mabel, 11, with Willis, then divulged how Evelyn informed her that people with dementia can become extremely dehydrated, prompting Heming Willis to ask how she learned that.
“She says, 'Well, I was at school the other day, and I had some free time and I was looking at fun facts about dementia,'” she said.
“Now that’s not funny, but it’s kind of funny. And she really is her father’s child because these two love some just random facts," the brain health advocate continued.
“So I said to her, ‘OK, Evelyn, we will always make sure that Daddy has a bottle of water in hand. Thank you for letting me know.’ I said, ‘That is the most loving and compassionate thing that you can do is to be curious and educate yourself on your dad’s disease.’”
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Hydration is essential for people with dementia, according to both the Alzheimer’s Society, and social media users in the comment section of the post, who shared their own insight on the disease.
“Someone with dementia may become dehydrated if they’re unable to communicate or recognize that they’re thirsty, or if they forget to drink,” which can also lead to "headaches, increased confusion, urinary tract infections and constipation," according to the organization's website. "These can make the symptoms of dementia worse.”
Additionally, one Instagrammer echoed that sentiment, as they added their personal experience caring for someone battling the same diagnosis. "Dehydration is so prevalent in dementia. Do what you can to keep your loved one hydrated (water, juice, etc) throughout the day. It is amazing to see the difference it makes in their cognitive ability (even when that ability is decreasing)," the fan wrote, adding, "My dad has Alzheimer’s - we can immediately tell if he is dehydrated simply by his behaviour. Thank you for being such a wonderful advocate!!"
Another followed up, writing in part: "It is a very difficult thing to go through! My mother passed with dementia! Your daughter is correct she died from a clot to her lungs from dehydration and inactivity."
As Parade previously reported, in March 2022, the family announced that Willis was retiring from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia. They then shared that he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia this past February.