Though lovers be lost, love shall not.
— Welsh poet and writer Dylan Thomas
MAYPAJO, Caloocan City — Last Sunday, June 21, we celebrated Father’s Day and heartbreaking as it is, my daughter and son-in-law forgot all about this special day—failing to greet me as they always do in the past years.
However, as a father of nearly seventy summers, I tend to forgive as times today have simply taken away from us the chance or opportunity to savor the goodness of life—despite the challenges and difficulties we experience, day-to-day.
Given that, let me talk about Hollywood actor Bruce Willis, who retired from acting in 2022 after being diagnosed with aphasia. A year, his family confirmed a more specific diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). This cruel neurodegenerative disease affects behavior, cognition and the ability to communicate, though his long-term memory largely remains intact.
Four years into his situation, Willis’s condition has steadily progressed, requiring 24-hour care. He has been relocated to a specialized, single-story care home equipped with medical support. The environment is designed to minimize noise and help him move around safely and comfortably.
Unlike Alzheimer’s, which is heavily characterized by memory loss, FTD primarily attacks the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. This means Willis often recognizes his loved ones, but struggles deeply with speech, reading, and language processing.
Currently, Bruce’s wife, Emma Heming Willis, serves as his primary caregiver and advocate. She is actively supported by his daughters (Rumer Glenn Willis, 37, Scout LaRue Willis, 34, and Tallulah Belle Willis, 32) and his ex-wife, Demi Moore, who has taken to Instagram to pay tribute to her ex-husband Bruce Willis on Father’s Day.
The Academy Award-nominated actress posted a carousel of photos of Bruce with their three daughters, Rumer, Scout and Tallulah, over the years.
Despite breaking up in 2000, Demi has remained close to her ex-husband. She also paid tribute to Bruce’s wife as she celebrated her 50th birthday.
Before Father’s Day, Emma posted photos of her with Demi and Tallulah.
Bruce and Moore, who wed in 1987, often share their grown-up daughters to pose and praise their blended families on social media.
In an interview two years ago, Rumer told People magazine that she was “so grateful” that her parents are good friends: “I think one of the most beautiful things to witness about my parents’ relationship still is just their love and support of each other.”
Emma also posted a Father’s Day tribute to the Die Hard actor on her Instagram. Bruce also has two younger daughters with the British-American model, Mabel, 14 and Evelyn, 12.
“Happy Father’s Day to all the dads who make their children feel safe, loved and completely at ease in their presence and in their arms. Just like our Bruce,” she wrote on social media.
While Bruce’s condition diagnosis has severely affected his language skills and behaviour, Emma described how his young daughters have learned to adjust to their father’s illness: “You can see the tenderness of it. The girls don’t need him to be this or do that.”
She added that “(Mabel and Evelyn) have really adapted to his disease and they know how to move around him. It’s beautiful, but it’s hard for them. They miss him.”
Relating to this, I’m hoping my daughter, too, misses me.
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FOR your comments or suggestions, complaints or requests, just send a message through my email at cipcab2006@yahoo.com or text me at cellphone numbers 09171656792 or 09171592256 during office hours from Monday to Friday. Thank you and mabuhay!
ia/xf
