About the Book
“This book is a game changer for caregivers of loved ones with dementia. This book will help millions of families, like hers, like yours, like mine, like everyone’s. It’s a book for our time.” – Maria Shriver
From Emma Heming Willis, wife of Bruce Willis, a deeply personal and richly compassionate supportive guide that helps caregivers care for themselves while they navigate a loved one's dementia.
The day Emma Heming Willis’ husband, Bruce Willis, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), all they were given was a pamphlet and told to check back in a few months. With no hope or direction, Emma walked out of that doctor’s appointment frozen with fear, confusion and a sense that her world had just fallen apart.
In fact, it had. Bruce and Emma had their story written, their future mapped out. Yet all those dreams crumbled with that diagnosis, and Emma felt alone and more isolated than ever. How would she care for her husband while parenting their young daughters?
At that devastating time, Emma just wanted someone who'd been through it to tell her, “This feels terrible right now. Your life is in shambles. But it’s going to be okay. Here are some things to think about and put in place so you cannot just survive but thrive.”
With The Unexpected Journey, Emma has written the book she wishes she’d been handed on the day of Bruce’s diagnosis: a supportive guide to navigating the complicated, heartbreaking, and transformative experience that is caregiving for your loved one. Weaving her personal journey as a care partner with the latest research and insights from the world’s top dementia, caregiving, and integrative experts she offers the guidance and wisdom caregivers everywhere so desperately need to hear, including:
A diagnosis isn’t just a label, it’s a starting point. It helps you better understand your person’s behavior and respond with more clarity and compassion.
Taking care of yourself is not optional; it's mandatory. It will make you a better care partner. It’s not selfish, it’s self-preserving.
You don’t have a choice about being on the dementia caregiving journey. But you do have a choice in terms of how you approach it and reframe it.
Caregivers are human so you aren’t always going to be patient and selfless. You have challenges and struggle with conflicting emotions and that’s okay.
Ultimately, The Unexpected Journey shows you how to care for yourself while doing one of the hardest, most heartbreaking jobs in the world. Because if you don’t take care of yourself, you are not going to be able to look after anyone else—especially your loved one with dementia.
For anyone caregiving for a loved one with any form of dementia, and even for those caregiving for other conditions, The Unexpected Journey shows that you are not alone. As Emma writes, “I know that no two caregiving journeys are the same, but we are connected by the same unchosen thread. It’s not an easy path for you, your loved one or your family. But I’m here to let you know that you are not alone, and, in time, you will find your footing, and a way forward."
About the Author :
Emma Heming Willis is a mother, step-mother, wife, advocate, and co-founder of Make Time Wellness, a brand devoted to women's brain health. After her husband, Bruce Willis, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, she became a passionate voice for care partners and families navigating neurodegenerative disease. Through her storytelling and advocacy, Emma hopes to help others feel less alone on the caregiving journey. This is her first book.
Review :
“With grace, honesty, and unflinching courage, Emma has opened her heart to share the truth of caregiving―its heartbreaks and its hidden gifts. Through her story, Emma offers not only guidance, but also the kind of empathy that only comes from living it.” – Demi Moore
“Emma took her pain and created a life raft of information for the many caretakers suffering in silence. We need to care for those who are caring for others with the same commitment. Emma has done just that.” – Sandra Bullock
“Through her candid explanations of her lessons learned as well as her research with the top doctors and experts in the field, Emma helps caregivers feel less alone and reframes the events that are happening to them so they can find ways to thrive even in the most unexpected and challenging times.” – M. Night Shyamalan
“From cover to cover, The Unexpected Journey is filled with straightforward, applicable information and honest reflections that will make every caregiver know that they are not alone.” – Katie Couric
“No matter your age or experience or who you are caring for, this book is a welcome companion, ensuring that you grow on this journey.” – Marcia Gay Harden
“Emma’s big heart and unflinching honesty will be a blessed tonic for anyone struggling with how to attend to themselves as they attend to others. – Mary-Louise Parker, actress
"A must read for anyone facing this challenge and seeking comfort, information, and humanity.” – Jake Tapper
“Emma's care for our daddio is tender and unwavering, and the vulnerability she shares with the world is a lifeline for so many others walking a similar path. We are endlessly proud of her and profoundly grateful to be her family.” – Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah Willis
“Emma’s book is not just a practical resource―it is a lifeline for caregivers struggling with burnout, grief, emotional exhaustion, and the overwhelming sense of responsibility that often accompanies the role." – Tracy Pollan
