Emma Heming Willis
The Unexpected Journey by Emma Heming Willis

The
Unexpected
Journey

Finding Strength, Hope, and
Yourself on the Caregiving Path

By Emma Heming Willis

Will be published this September by Maria Shriver’s imprint, The Open Field at Penguin Random House.

Caring for yourself while caring for someone else is one of the hardest, most heartbreaking challenges you’ll ever face. It’s easy to lose your sense of self. Through my own experience and insights from leading experts, I want to help care partners feel less alone, better prepared, and empowered to navigate this journey with strength and support. When you care for yourself first, you’re better able to care for your person.

This isn’t just about surviving—it’s about finding connection, resilience, and even moments of joy along the way. You don’t have to do this alone.

About the Book

When my husband, Bruce, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), I walked out of the doctor’s office with nothing but a pamphlet—and a crushing sense of fear and uncertainty. With no hope or direction, I longed for someone to tell me, “This feels unbearable now, but you will get through it.” That’s why I wrote The Unexpected Journey—the book I wish someone had placed in my hands that day.

This isn’t a guide on how to be a caregiver; it’s about how to care for yourself while doing one of the hardest, most heartbreaking jobs in the world. Through my own experience and insights from leading experts, I hope to help other care partners feel less isolated, better prepared, and empowered to navigate this journey with strength and support.

The Care Partner in Your Corner
The Unexpected Journey by Emma Heming Willis

Why You Need This Book:

Get Straightforward Advice on Taking Care of YOU
You are not alone. This book will remind you that caring for yourself isn’t selfish—it’s essential. With practical guidance for your physical and mental well-being, you’ll understand why prioritizing yourself is key to sustaining yourself through the challenges of caregiving.

Feel Understood
Everything you’re thinking and feeling is valid. You’ll see that your experiences, emotions, and struggles are shared by so many others—and you’ll find ways to connect with a community that truly gets it.

Learn How to Ask for Help
Your friends and family want to support you, but they may not know how. This book offers guidance on how to communicate what you need and even includes a chapter written specifically for them—There is a community out there for you.

Reframe the Journey
You didn’t choose this path, but you can choose how to navigate it. The Unexpected Journey will help you shift your perspective and find meaning, strength, and even moments of light along the way.

Endorsements

“This book is a game changer for caregivers of loved ones with dementia. It comes out of Emma’s pain, which she has turned into a purpose bigger than herself. This book is brave, it’s courageous, it’s vulnerable, and it will change lives. I couldn’t be prouder of her and the courage it took for her to write this. This will help millions of families, like hers, like yours, like mine, like everyone’s. This is a must read, a must buy, a must give. It’s a must. It’s a book for our time.”

 

— Maria Shriver

“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. We can all benefit from one of the most important messages in this book: Self-care isn’t selfish—it’s survival. Being a caregiver exacts a toll, and it’s imperative that we carve out time for ourselves to reset and recharge. For anyone caring for an aging parent, a spouse with a chronic illness, or a child with special needs, The Unexpected Journey provides invaluable insights and important resources.”

 

— Tracy Pollan, actress and author

“Becoming a caregiver to someone you love is one of the hardest and most heart-breaking jobs in the world, but Emma Heming Willis has documented her story with grace and empathy. 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

“I admire Emma for telling her story of how strength, courage, and love can help you overcome fear and desperation in the face of neurodegenerative disease. Emma shares practical tips and valuable advice on how (and why) a caregiver can, should, and must take care of themselves. Giving of oneself and providing constant care for a loved one with dementia is beyond challenging, but The Unexpected Journey offers a road map forward on how to do so with balance and grace.”

 

— Richard S. Isaacson, MD, preventive neurologist at the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases and founder of the first Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic in the United States

About the Author

Emma Heming Willis is an advocate, entrepreneur, wife, and mother dedicated to supporting caregivers and raising awareness for frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and brain health. When her husband, Bruce Willis, was diagnosed with FTD, Emma was thrust into the world of caregiving with little guidance. Through her journey, she has become a powerful voice for care partners, sharing her experiences to help others feel less alone and empowered to care for themselves while caring for a loved one.

She is also the founder of Make Time Wellness, a brand committed to getting the world to take women’s brain health seriously.

 

“This book is a reminder that to
care for your person, you must
first care for yourself—because
without you, none of this works.”
— Emma Heming Willis
The Diagnosis that Changed Everything

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Caring for others starts with you.