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Emily Willis’s tragic last text message before she was left ‘permanently paralyzed’
The last message Emily Willis sent before she was left "permanently paralyzed" has been revealed.
The 27-year-old former adult star, whose real name is Litzy Lara Bañuelos, checked into Summit Malibu in January 2024.
Nine days into her stay, she was found unresponsive and not breathing before suffering a cardiac arrest.
Willis eventually emerged from a weeks-long coma with an anoxic brain injury caused by oxygen deprivation, leaving her paralyzed and requiring round-the-clock care.
More than two and a half years later, her brother Michael Cooper says the last words he received from his sister were the texts she sent before entering the facility.
"Hey Bubs, I am about to check in. I might not have my phone. So, if you don't hear from me in the next seven days, that's why!! Then I get my phone back after detox," she wrote in January 2024.
"Thank you for letting me know Litz," Michael replied, using a shortened version of his sister's real name.
"I love you. You got this make sure you come out of this with a plan forward miss you tons proud you're taking care of yourself call me when you can," he added.
Michael reread the heartbreaking message in an interview with the Daily Mail and became emotional as his sister never got the chance to respond.
'I had zero reason to think anything would go wrong'
Legal records cited by the publication state that Willis had been using five to six grams of ketamine per day in the months before entering treatment, alongside alcohol.
However, her lawyer, James A. Morris, Jr., previously said Willis did not enter Summit Malibu for ketamine treatment because she had stopped using the drug before arriving, and said she was seeking treatment for anorexia.
Her 21-day program at Summit Malibu cost $45,500.
Michael said his sister was optimistic about getting help.
"She said it had a lot of amenities, and a lot of celebrities went there and they make sure you come out well. She was strong going in and had a path forward," he said. "I had zero reason to think anything would go wrong."
A civil complaint filed by Willis's mother, Yesenia Cooper, alleged that her condition deteriorated during her stay.
Michael said his 5'6' sister weighed 111 pounds before entering the facility. By the time of her cardiac arrest, the complaint alleges she weighed just 83 pounds and had not been seen by a nutritionist or dietitian.
Medical notes described in the complaint allegedly recorded multiple warning signs.
On her third day, Willis was described as "disheveled, frail, disoriented" and having "difficulty walking," although she reportedly refused hospitalization.
By day five, another note described her as "anxious, distressed, barely eating, not showering or getting dressed and was experiencing aches, tremors, spasms and weakness".
The file also claims she experienced night terrors, a severe urinary tract infection, and serious dehydration.
On the ninth day, a nurse found Willis unresponsive and not breathing.
Willis now requires 24-hour care
Willis is now paralyzed and relies on feeding and breathing equipment fitted into her neck.
Her family says she cannot communicate beyond sounds described as grunts, moans, and occasional screams, but they believe her reactions could suggest some awareness of her surroundings.
Her mother said Willis sometimes screams and kicks out of frustration.
Michael has also described moments that have given him hope that his sister recognizes him.
"Sometimes I'll blow her a kiss and she'll sort of pucker her lips like she's blowing one back," he shared. "It's a struggle for her, and it doesn't always happen. But it has me thinking she's in there."
Willis' mother has since moved her to Mexico, where relatives provide 24-hour care at a family home.
Cooper has discussed potentially taking her daughter to Spain for experimental treatment.
"They do things there that aren't available here. Maybe she can become more independent," she said.