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Emma Heming Willis Shares She's Feeling 'Sadness, Grief' on Bruce Willis' Birthday

Bruce Willis' wife Emma Heming Willis is feeling an array of emotions on the actor's first birthday since revealing his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis.

The Die Hard icon turned 68 on Sunday, and his wife shared how it was affecting her on her Instagram Story.

"Today is my husband's birthday. I have started the morning by crying as you can see by my swollen eyes and snotty nose," she began. "I just think it's important that you see all sides of this."

"I always get this message or people always tell me, 'Oh, you're so strong. I don't know how you do it.' I'm not given a choice," Emma, 44, explained. "I wish I was, but I'm also raising two kids in this."

"Sometimes in our lives, we have to put our big girl panties on and get to it. And that's what I'm doing," she continued. "But I do have times of sadness, every day, grief every day, and I'm really feeling it today on his birthday."

Bruce Willis and Emma Heming
Bruce Willis and Emma Heming

Getty

"I worked on this [forthcoming] reel that I'm posting for my husband's birthday. I don't know why I do that to myself because the videos are like a knife in my heart," Emma shared.

"But as much as I do it for myself I do it for you because I know how much you love my husband," she told fans before pausing to remind herself, "Don't cry, Emma."

She concluded the video by saying, "But it means so much to me, so thank you."

Later in the day, Emma posted a touching collection of family home movies.

"He is pure love. He is so loved. And I'll be loving him always. Happy Birthday my sweet 💌 My birthday wish for Bruce is that you continue to keep him in your prayers and highest vibrations because his sensitive Pisces soul will feel it 🙏🏽 Thank you so much for loving and caring for him too," she caption the post.

RELATED: Emma Heming Willis Advocating for Husband Bruce Willis After Dementia Diagnosis: 'I Didn't Come to Play'

Scout Willis also shared a post to mark her famous father's birthday on Instagram Sunday.

Posting a throwback photograph of herself on her dad's shoulders as a toddler, Scout, 31, began her caption, writing, "It's his birthday so send all of your love, tenderness, care and prayer his way for a moment!"

"Happy birthday to one of my best friends, the Pisces king, the master of duality, both action hero icon and gentle girl dad," she continued. "What a privilege to have this man as my father and learn so much about life, joy, mischief and art through him."

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 15: Bruce Willis and Emma Heming attend the "Glass" New York Premiere at SVA Theater on January 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 15: Bruce Willis and Emma Heming attend the "Glass" New York Premiere at SVA Theater on January 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Bruce Willis and Emma Heming Willis

Then noting how her dad's birthday "is not necessarily an easy day, because it's a day full of so deep love, and our grief really does show us the depth of our loving for someone," Scott noted, "I'm trying to be with both today."

"Grief is a price I'll always pay to know what it is to feel such love," she added. "I'm sending my love to anyone who has ever felt the capacity stretched by the enormity of love and humanness of grief. I love you."

Bruce's birthday comes weeks after Emma posted on Instagram and askedpaparazzi to "keep their space" from her husband as he goes out with friends or family, explaining that it is already "stressful" to go out into the world and to navigate them safely.

She added that there still needs to be a lot of "education" about how to treat people with dementia.

"I know this is your job, but maybe just keep your space," she said in the video. "Please don't be yelling at my husband, asking how he's doing, whatever. The woo-hooing and the yippee-ki-yay's — just don't do it. Give him the space. Allow for our family or whoever's with him that day to be able to get him from Point A to Point B safely. That's my PSA."

Bruce's milestone event is not the only happy occasion in the family — his eldest daughter, Rumer Willis, celebrated her baby shower on March 11 surrounded by family and friends.

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Scout LaRue Willis, Emma Heming, Rumer Willis, Demi Moore, Tallulah Belle Willis, Evelyn Willis, Mabel Willis EXCLUSIVE - Demi Moore and her daughters throw Rumer Willis a baby shower
Scout LaRue Willis, Emma Heming, Rumer Willis, Demi Moore, Tallulah Belle Willis, Evelyn Willis, Mabel Willis EXCLUSIVE - Demi Moore and her daughters throw Rumer Willis a baby shower

Michael Simon/Shutterstock Scout LaRue Willis, Emma Heming, Rumer Willis, Demi Moore, Tallulah Belle Willis, Evelyn Willis, Mabel Willis

RELATED: Pregnant Rumer Willis Celebrates Baby Shower with Mom Demi Moore and Family — See the Photos!

The pregnant House Bunny actress and boyfriend Derek Richard Thomas performed together at the intimate event and posed together for pictures with the entire Willis clan, including all four of Rumer's sisters, his ex-wife Demi Moore and Emma. Bruce was not in photos shared from the event.

Bruce shares Rumer, 34, Scout and Tallulah Willis, 29 with Moore. With Emma, he shares Mabel, 10, and Evelyn, 8.

When the family revealed the actor's FTD diagnosis last month, they said in a group statement, "Bruce has always found joy in life — and has helped everyone he knows to do the same. It has meant the world to see that sense of care echoed back to him and to all of us. We have been so moved by the love you have all shared for our dear husband, father, and friend during this difficult time."

"Your continued compassion, understanding, and respect will enable us to help Bruce live as full a life as possible," they concluded.