Former adult star Emily Willis may be living with locked-in syndrome, according to a new update on her condition.
Willis, 26, whose real name is Litzy Lara Banuelo, was left "permanently disabled" after suffering a cardiac arrest while at a rehabilitation center in 2024.
She had checked into Summit Malibu 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.
Emily Willis's family starts legal case against rehab center
Cooper had filed a legal case against Summit Malibu and its parent company, Malibu Lighthouse Treatment Centers, in December 2024, accusing them of "abuse of a dependent adult, professional negligence, negligence and fraudulent business practices".
Updating on her condition at present, Morris told The Mirror US: "She remains bedridden due to her neurological injuries."
He confirmed that while Willis - who is being cared for by her mother in Utah - has been left unable to speak, she is able to make noises and can "move her body somewhat".
Earlier in the year, Morris had told the Star that Willis had lost even more weight since her injury, and revealed that doctors were discussing whether she was suffering from locked-in syndrome,.
While she was yet to receive a formal diagnosis, he revealed that doctors had considered it a "possibility", but added that they were still awaiting her medical records before they were able to review what the "neurologist in charge had to say about her condition."
What is locked-in syndrome?
Locked-in syndrome is a rare neurological disorder caused by damage to the brainstem, which leaves the patient conscious but almost entirely paralysed, except for eye movements.
As per the Cleveland Clinic, locked-in syndrome happens from damage to a part of the brainstem called the pons, usually from a stroke, leaving patients with total paralysis but remaining conscious and with their normal cognitive abilities.
In locked-in syndrome, all of the voluntary muscles are paralyzed, except for those that control up and down eye movements, meaning that while patients are unable to show facial expressions, speak or move, they can communicate with eye movements.
There is no cure or specific treatments for locked-in syndrome, but it can be managed with supportive therapy for feeding and breathing, as well as communication training.
Whether a person recovers any motor abilities depends on the cause of the locked-in syndrome, but a complete recovery is highly unlikely.
The prognosis for people with locked-in syndrome depends on the cause as well as the level of support and care the patient receives, but a recent survey has shown that people living with locked-in syndrome are able to live happy and meaningful lives.
When will Emily Willis's case go to trial?
Morris disclosed: "Trial is set to take place in Santa Monica on May 6, 2026. We have additional hearings in February."
It comes after their latest court hearing took place on September 23, with one of the February hearings cited as a "Hearing on Demurrer - with Motion to Strike", meaning the judge will review the defendant's request to have the complaint against them dismissed, a motion that Summit Malibu filed in late August.
Summit Malibu has denied Cooper's claims of neglect, and stated in their filing that Willis's mom had failed to provide further details regarding the allegations of elder/dependent-abuse in a previous hearing in June, per PornCrush.
Summit Malibu also argued that they did not have the authority to transport Willis to a hospital without her consent, stating in a court document cited by the outlet: "It is undisputed that during her stay, (Willis) had refused to follow medical recommendations and take her medications.
"She refused to go to urgent care or the hospital voluntarily, despite being encouraged to do so by (Summit Malibu)."
In August, Morris had told PornCrush that Summit Malibu had allegedly erred by not recognising that Willis needed immediate hospitalisation when she arrived at their facility in January 2024.
The lawsuit claims that Willis's mental and physical state had deteriorated after entering the facility, with Morris adding: "They should've transferred her to a hospital earlier and let the doctors put a feeding tube in her and treat her properly while she was still (coherent) and speaking and walking.
"Instead, they allowed her to have a say in her medical treatment, which is not what you do with somebody who is in severe health danger. She was in a very brittle place."