Celebrity3 min(s) read
Emily Willis's mother has shared the heartbreaking signs the former adult star makes that shows she is still 'aware' despite suffering from 'locked-in syndrome'.
As previously reported, the 27-year-old's family brought a case against Summit Malibu rehabilitation center after she was found unconscious, suffering a cardiac arrest and "irreversible brain damage" in 2024, leaving her "permanently disabled".
Willis - whose real name is Litzy Lara Banuelos - had checked into the center seeking treatment for anorexia and weighing 100 pounds, with her lawyer, James A. Morris, Jr, clarifying that she had not sought help from the treatment center for ketamine use as she had stopped using the drug prior to entering the facility.
Willis was found unresponsive in the facility in February 2024, with a lawsuit brought by her mother, Yesenia Cooper, stating that a nurse had performed CPR on her for three minutes until paramedics arrived, and they were able to get a pulse after 30-40 minutes.
How long Willis had been unconscious before she was found was not stated, with Morris adding that Willis had suffered an anoxic brain injury, which led to her being left disabled and paralyzed due to oxygen deprivation.
Since the incident, Willis now needs round-the-clock care as she is unable to do anything besides "grunting".
Her mother has now revealed that she believes Willis is aware she is living with locked-in syndrome despite the severe brain damage she suffered.
Cooper told the Daily Mail that Willis, who has had feeding and breathing apparatus fitted in her neck, sometimes screams and even kicks her out of frustration.
She added that she plans to buy a house in Mexico, where their extended family are, and look after Willis there, as nursing care is more affordable than in the US.
Cooper is also hoping to take Willis to Spain for experimental treatments which she hopes may help her move and eat unaided, explaining: "They do things there that aren't available here. Maybe she can become more independent."
Willis's brother, Michael, revealed signs he'd noticed that Willis may be aware of her surroundings, explaining: "Sometimes I'll blow her a kiss and she'll sort of pucker her lips like she's blowing one back.
"It's a struggle for her, and it doesn't always happen. But it has me thinking she's in there."
He added that the most frustrating part for him is "still having no clue what happened" ahead of the incident that changed Willis's life.
"That's what is so frustrating is that this didn't happen to her at home or anything. It happened under the care of medical professionals who were acting under California law as her legal guardians," he added.
The family's case against Summit Malibu ended with a $3million settlement, with part of it paying her medical bills and the remaining $1.25million being put into a trust for Willis's ongoing care.
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