Emily Willis’ health issues have been brought to light following a major lawsuit filed by her mother, Yesenia Lara Cooper, against the rehabilitation center where the former adult film star was being treated for addiction.
In February of the previous year, it was revealed that Willis, who had once been a prominent figure in the adult industry, had been admitted to a medical facility after her health took a sharp decline. It was later disclosed that she had suffered a cardiac arrest and spent two months in a coma. At 26 years old, she is now left in a vegetative state, her family confirmed.
What’s Going On with Emily Willis?
Willis had been struggling with a ketamine addiction and was admitted to Summit Malibu rehab clinic in January 2024. Her mother, Yesenia, stated that her daughter had been using an alarming amount of ketamine, reportedly consuming five to six grams daily. In addition, she was grappling with night terrors, bladder inflammation, and had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder, anxiety, and PTSD.
When Willis entered the rehab center, her blood alcohol levels were reportedly zero, and she was free of drugs. However, her weight was dangerously low, as she weighed only 100lbs, which was 16lbs under her ideal weight for her height. Unfortunately, after entering the facility, her condition only worsened, according to the lawsuit filed against Summit Malibu and its parent company, Malibu Lighthouse Treatment Centers, LLC.
What Led to the Filing of the Lawsuit?
The legal complaint alleges that during her time in the clinic, Willis suffered from symptoms including hot and cold chills, tremors, headaches, disorientation, difficulty walking, and vaginal pain. She also experienced dehydration and appeared frail and unkempt. Despite her distress, she resisted going to the hospital when advised, and paramedics were called to evaluate her, though she was not taken to the hospital.
Twenty-six hours later, she was found unconscious. Paramedics managed to detect a faint pulse after 30 to 40 minutes of performing CPR, but it was too late. The lawsuit claims that Willis suffered irreversible brain damage and permanent physical and mental impairments during her stay at the rehab center.
What transpired after Willis suffered a cardiac arrest?
Yesenia has filed the lawsuit, asserting that her daughter was failed by the center in terms of proper care, supervision, and providing a safe environment for someone with addiction and mental health issues. She believes that the rehab facility took Willis in only to profit, without considering whether it was the right place for her recovery needs.
Now, Willis lives with “locked-in syndrome,” a condition where she can only move her eyes and cannot speak. Her family’s attorney, James A. Morris Jr., made a statement expressing that, had proper medical protocols been followed, Willis could have had a chance at recovery. “No patient should ever be subjected to such a horrendous breakdown in clinical care,” he stated, emphasizing that her health was ignored until it was too late.
The family hopes the lawsuit will bring about significant changes in the way treatment centers handle critical cases, urging that negligence in these facilities must be addressed to prevent similar situations from occurring to others in need of urgent medical care.
