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Adult star Emily Willis' mom gives update on her condition after being left with 'brain damage'
Joshua N.
Emily Willis' mother has provided a positive update on her daughter's health following a $3 million settlement.
The adult star has been left with life-changing brain damage following a medical emergency at a rehab center.
Her family settled with the Malibu rehab facility where she suffered catastrophic brain damage, which left Willis disabled and paralyzed due to oxygen deprivation.
Willis had suffered an anoxic brain injury, with court filings detailing that the 27-year-old can no longer move her body, and only occasionally opens her eyes or grunts, and can not consistently respond to those around her.
Prior to her cardiac arrest and 30-40 minutes without oxygen, Willis was one of the biggest stars in the adult industry, even winning Performer of the Year at the 2021 AVN Awards.
Now, her mom has provided a positive update.
Emily Willis health update
Willis' mother, Yesenia Cooper, told TMZ that her daughter is non-verbal, but she can now communicate with her eyes and by shaking her head, understanding about 80% of what is going on.
Her steady recovery signals an improvement, as her mom says that she is getting better each day, fighting to live the best possible life.
Cooper had sued Malibu Lighthouse Treatment Center in 2024, claiming that the facility didn't properly care for Willis when she was being treated earlier that year.
Despite reaching a $3 million settlement, the defendants continued to deny wrongdoing and did not admit liability.
The publication reported that the adult actress is learning to walk again and needs help being fed, but she is now able to sleep on her own.
Willis also manages to watch movies and TV shows she enjoys, after undergoing more than 10 surgeries.
She is now in Mexico with the best therapists, with the family aiming to secure a transfer to Spain so she can undergo new neurological brain-related procedures.
This will help to stimulate the systems that control speech, communication, and movement.
What happened to Emily Willis?
As previously reported, the 27-year-old's family brought the case against Summit Malibu rehabilitation center after she was found unconscious.
Willis suffered a cardiac arrest and "irreversible brain damage" in the 2024 incident, leaving her "permanently disabled".
She first checked into the center for treatment in relation to anorexia, weighing just 100 pounds at the time.
Her lawyer, James A. Morris, Jr, said that she had not sought help from the treatment center for ketamine use, as she had stopped using the drug before entering the facility.
But by February 2024, Willis was found unresponsive in the facility, with a lawsuit brought by her mother, Yesenia Cooper.
She stated 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.
Morris said that Willis likely has "locked-in syndrome," meaning she can not move or communicate but remains mentally aware.
The settlement was approved by Santa Monica Superior Court Judge Susan Bryant-Deason resolving the claim brought by Willis's mother, with judicial approval required due to Willis's condition, per the Independent.