Bruce Willis recently made a rare public appearance to thank first responders amid the Los Angeles wildfires, marking his first regular sighting since his 2022 diagnosis of aphasia, later confirmed as frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

his wife, Emma Heming Willishas been open about the actor's health struggles, emphasizing honesty with their children while raising awareness of FTD.

Despite the emotional blow, Bruce Willis' wife remains committed to supporting their family and honoring their 17-year relationship.

Bruce is seen in a short video personally thanking the firefighters in Los Angeles amid the ongoing fires.

Sharing the moment on Instagram, his wife Emma posted a black-and-white video of the 69-year-old actor wearing a New York Yankees cap as he warmly shook hands with a Los Angeles police officer and posed for a photo.

Bruce looked happy in the video as he interacted with first responders. In her caption for the post, Emma, ​​46, mentioned that the video was taken the day before.

"Seeing first aid, Bruce never misses an opportunity to show his appreciation with a hearty handshake and 'thank you for your service.' Yesterday was no different," she wrote.

Bruce's daughter, with ex-wife Demi Moore, Tallulah Willis, expressed her joy after seeing the video of his father, saying: "My heart is so fucking full."

Fans were also emotional as they saw Bruce off amid his battle with dementia.

One person said: "WOW Awesome, Bruce looks great. (I was a 24/7 carer for my dad who has vascular dementia)... Getting out in the sun and socializing is so important. Willis family, you're doing a great job."

Another fan said: "He's always been great with the public and a great human being. Cognitive deficits can't take that away from him."

The Instagram post marks Bruce's first public appearance since 2022, after his family announced he had been diagnosed with aphasia, a disorder that forced him to retire from acting.

The Willis family revealed in 2023 that Bruce had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a progressive disorder that causes the frontal and temporal parts of the brain to shrink.

On December 29, Emma, ​​who married Bruce in 2009, shared a heartfelt post on Instagram to mark the anniversary of their first date.

The photo shows the couple standing in shallow water at sunset, wearing bathing suits. "17 years of us," the actress wrote in the caption.

She reflected openly on how anniversaries, once filled with excitement, now bring a mix of emotions.

"If I'm being honest, they bring up all the feels, leaving a heaviness in my heart and a pit in my stomach," she admitted.

Emma shared that she allows herself 30 minutes to sit with pain and sadness, asking herself, "Why him, why us."

However, after that, she decides to move forward and focus on what remains: unconditional love.

"I feel blessed to know that, and it's because of him. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat," she added in her anniversary post.

In an October interview with Town & Country magazineHemming revealed that she has no intention of lying to her young daughters, Mabel, 12, and Evelyn, 10, about the health of their father, Bruce.

The model told the publication that the children witnessed the movie star's health "decline" before he was even diagnosed with dementia.

"I've never tried to sugarcoat anything for them. They grew up with a Willis that has declined over the years," Emma said. "I'm not trying to protect them from that."

She went on to reveal that Willis' disease is commonly "misdiagnosed" and "misunderstood," noting that getting the right diagnosis helped her learn what the actor was going through.

"It was ultimately crucial to get a diagnosis," she said, "so I could learn what frontotemporal dementia is and I could educate our children."

Hemming also said the signs of Willis' battle with dementia were not immediately apparent, noting that the disease was "whispering."

Last month, Bruce's ex-wife, Demi Moore, gave an update on his well-being amid his battle with dementia.

In an interview with CNNThe 62-year-old actress explained that the actor is "in a very stable place," but it wasn't easy watching him struggle.

"Given the facts, he's in a very stable place right now," she said. "I've shared this before, but I really mean it so sincerely. It's so important for anyone dealing with this to really meet them where they are, and from that place there's such love and joy."

Moore added that watching a loved one struggle with the condition is "very difficult" and "not something I would wish on anyone."

"There is great loss, but there is also great beauty and gifts that can come from it," she added.