By: John M Jerva

John McClane is human just like the rest of us. Bruce Willis has officially retired from acting as it is being reported today that he has been diagnosed with Aphasia which is a communication disorder.

Willis’ family made the announcement on social media Wednesday as the 67 year old actor was doing what he could in films for several years now.

“To Bruce’s amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities,” read the official statement.

The announcement also stated: “As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, aphasia “is a condition that robs you of the ability to communicate. It can affect your ability to speak, write and understand language, both verbal and written.” The group adds that the condition “typically occurs suddenly after a stroke or a head injury. But it can also come on gradually from a slow-growing brain tumor or a disease that causes progressive, permanent damage (degenerative).”

This hits home for me as I finally came out last month that I was diagnosed with FND also known as Functional Neurological Disorder. The symptoms I have are similar to Aphasia so I totally sympathize with what Willis is going through.

When it first hit me, I was left in a wheelchair and had to relearn how to walk, talk and perform normal daily activities. My memory is a constant problem and there is no cure for this just like Aphasia. I am better than I was but it is a constant daily battle to do things and this website helps me but it is difficult to write. I am optimistic that I will beat this and hopefully someday be the person that I was so I continue battling every minute of the day.

I have known about Willis’ condition for many months now so it was hard to do reviews of his films. I basically rate his films for what they are and if they are still bad and warranted a negative review I will give it. I won’t mention any negativity towards Willis as he was doing the best with what he had. Once I found out about his condition, I stopped attacking his performances in the movies.

I have been a fan of Willis since the 80’s and I wanted to personally thank him for all the films and television that he gave us throughout the decades. From Die Hard to the Last Boy Scout and so many more, Willis was the anti-establishment action hero, and he was so much more. He’s given us ample amounts of entertainment to savor throughout the years and even though he’s suffering from this disorder, I know that wise cracking thespian is still with us and will be to his last day. We haven’t seen the last of him. I can feel it in my bones.

I wish him all my best and pray that he learns to live with this as I am doing the same.

My prayers go out to him and his family during this difficult time. Yippee Ki Yay Motherfucker!