Emily Willis requires round-the-clock care more than two years after suffering a catastrophic brain injury while receiving treatment. The Emily Willis’ Family Details Devastating Reality Of Her Catastrophic Brain Injury first appeared on The Blast
Emily Willis requires round-the-clock care more than two years after suffering a catastrophic brain injury while receiving treatment at a luxury rehabilitation center. The 27-year-old former adult film star, whose legal name is Litzy Lara Banuelos, is reportedly unable to move or communicate beyond grunts and moans. Her family says she relies on feeding and breathing support. Despite the devastating prognosis, one occasional gesture has given Willis’ younger brother hope that she remains aware of the people around her.
Emily Willis Entered Rehab Ready To Get Help
Willis entered Summit Malibu in California in early 2024 while struggling with ketamine and alcohol addiction, according to the Daily Mail. She reportedly texted her younger brother, Michael Cooper, to tell him she would be “detoxing” for 21 days without access to her phone or substances. The treatment program reportedly cost $45,500.
Michael, now 24, said his sister appeared optimistic about receiving 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.”
Nine days into her stay, Willis was reportedly found unresponsive and not breathing. Paramedics eventually restored her pulse, but the prolonged lack of oxygen caused an anoxic brain injury. It took nearly three weeks for Willis to emerge from her coma. Her family was then told that the resulting brain damage was irreversible.
Lawsuit Alleged Her Health Rapidly Deteriorated
Willis’ mother, Yesenia Cooper, filed a civil complaint against Summit Malibu and its parent company, Malibu Lighthouse Treatment Centers. The complaint alleged that Willis entered the facility weighing 111 pounds but weighed only 83 pounds by the time she suffered cardiac arrest.
According to medical notes described in the complaint, Willis refused medication on her first day and exhibited multiple withdrawal symptoms. Three days into the program, she was allegedly described as ‘disheveled, frail, disoriented’ and experiencing ‘difficulty walking.’ The complaint said she declined hospitalization.
Another note allegedly described her as “anxious, distressed, barely eating, not showering or getting dressed and was experiencing aches, tremors, spasms and weakness.”
The complaint also alleged that Willis experienced night terrors, a serious urinary tract infection, and severe dehydration during her stay. Despite the reported weight loss and difficulty eating, the lawsuit claimed she was not evaluated by a nutritionist or dietitian.
The complaint accused Summit Malibu of admitting Willis “merely for profits.” “Defendants failed to provide her the care she needed for her physical and mental symptoms,” the complaint stated.
Summit Malibu denied the allegations and disputed that it was legally responsible for Willis’ condition. Court filings reportedly argued that Willis refused medication and recommendations to seek additional medical treatment.
The Rehabilitation Center Did Not Admit Wrongdoing
A judge approved a $3 million settlement in July, ending the lawsuit without a trial or a finding that Summit Malibu caused Willis’ injuries. According to TMZ, Willis is expected to receive about $1.25 million after attorney fees, liens, and other financial obligations are paid.
Her mother will reportedly continue serving as her conservator and overseeing the money placed into a trust for her ongoing care.
Malibu Lighthouse Treatment Centers did not admit liability or wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
Willis’ own attorney acknowledged in court filings that the case ‘was no slam dunk’ because it remains unclear what happened immediately before she stopped breathing. That uncertainty continues to torment her brother. “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,” Michael told the Daily Mail.
- Anne Heche died after suffering a catastrophic brain injury in a fiery car crash.
- “The Hills” alum Lauren “Lo” Bosworth revealed that she had secretly suffered a “brain injury.”
- Teddi Mellencamp celebrated undergoing successful brain surgery but emphasized that the “fight is not over.”
Emily Willis’ Mother Moved Her To Mexico
Yesenia has since moved Willis to Mexico, where relatives help provide constant care at a family member’s home. She reportedly plans to purchase a house there because nursing services are more affordable than in the United States and she has support from extended family.
Willis’ mother believes her daughter remains aware of her condition despite being unable to communicate conventionally. She said Willis sometimes screams and kicks out of frustration. Yesenia is also hoping to take her daughter to Spain for experimental treatments that she believes could help Willis regain some independence. “They do things there that aren’t available here. Maybe she can become more independent,” she said.
Michael remains concerned about the physical and emotional toll his sister’s care could take on their mother. The family continues to accept donations through a verified GoFundMe campaign, which has raised more than $127,000 at the time of publication.
“People have already been very generous,” Michael said. “But if anyone feels inclined to keep giving her the best quality of life possible, it would be more than appreciated.”
Her Family Remembers An Independent And Generous Woman
Michael described Willis as fiercely independent from a young age. She began working at a burger restaurant at 14 so she could buy her first smartphone. After the family moved from Mexico to Utah, Willis helped her younger brother by driving him to school in an aging green Pontiac Grand Am. “It was ugly, but she loved it,” Michael recalled.
Willis left home at 17 and eventually moved to Los Angeles, where she entered the adult film industry. Her success reportedly earned her millions of dollars, but Michael said she remained committed to supporting her family. “She was the most generous person ever, trying to take care of the people she loved, my mom, my dad, and me. We never asked her for money. We just loved her for who she was,” he said.
Her father, Michael Cooper Sr., acknowledged that accepting her career took time. “I didn’t like what she was doing, but instead of trying to criticize her and lose her, I kind of embraced her so she didn’t push me away,” he explained. “Nobody wants their daughter to do that. People will criticize, but they’ll watch somebody else’s daughter doing that, no problem.”
Willis and her younger brother remained especially close, regularly speaking by phone, traveling together and visiting amusement parks. “It was me and her against the world. That was something we’d always say,” Michael said.
Emily Willis Had Hoped To Pursue A Different Career
Before her medical emergency, Willis had begun expanding beyond adult entertainment. She appeared alongside Bella Thorne, Stephen Dorff and Scott Bakula in the 2023 science-fiction film “Divinity.” Deadline confirmed her casting in the project, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
According to her brother, Willis also discussed attending acting school or leaving the adult industry to study psychology in college. “We’d talk to her, try to help her, urging her to move out of Hollywood and those influences and come closer to us,” he said.
Michael now holds onto one small response that suggests his sister may recognize him despite her inability to speak. “Sometimes I’ll blow her a kiss, and she’ll sort of pucker her lips like she’s blowing one back,” he said. “It’s a struggle for her, and it doesn’t always happen. But it has me thinking she’s in there.”
The Emily Willis’ Family Details Devastating Reality Of Her Catastrophic Brain Injury first appeared on The Blast
Travis Kelce Walks Away From Taylor Swift Without Looking Back After Date Night
Taylor Swift Reportedly Facing Pressure To Release Wedding Visuals After Being Hit With ‘Negative Feedback’
The Work Fans Won’t See Behind Celine Dion’s Paris Comeback
Pink Addresses Macklemore Controversy, Says Repost ‘Isn’t A Statement’
Nick Reiner Gets ‘No Additional Privileges’ In Jail Despite Upcoming Birthday