A former adult film star entered rehab seeking recovery, but a medical emergency left the 25-year-old permanently paralyzed, leading to a court filing that is accusing the treatment center of “horrendous” care and “abuse.”
On January 27, 2024, former adult film actress Emily Willis, born Litzy Lara Banuelos, walked into Summit Malibu, a luxurious private rehab facility, looking for support in recovering from a ketamine addiction.
But those would be some of the last steps she would take, as only eight days later, a nurse practitioner found her unresponsive, leading to a severe medical crisis that left her permanently paralyzed.
Nonverbal and impaired
According to court documents filed in a lawsuit by Willis’ guardian Yesenia Cooper, the star had been using “five to six grams of ketamine a day” and was struggling with a range of health complications tied to substance abuse, including bladder inflammation, incontinence, and night terrors. She also had a history of major depressive disorder, anxiety, and PTSD, the Mirror reports.
On February 4, just days after her admission into the private rehab facility, Willis, only 25 at the time, was discovered unresponsive. It is unknown how long she was unconscious before she was found.
Emergency services were called, and CPR was performed for 30 to 40 minutes before her pulse was restored. However, following a cardiac arrest and the extended period without oxygen that resulted in an anoxic brain injury, she was left in a nonverbal, vegetative state.
Willis has been paralyzed since.
‘Horrendous breakdown in clinical care’
The lawsuit, filed in December 2024, accuses Summit Malibu and its parent company, Malibu Lighthouse Treatment Centers, LLC, of professional negligence, abuse of a dependent adult, and fraudulent business practices.
The legal filing alleges that staff failed to act on Willis’ visible health decline over several days and did not provide adequate medical intervention when it was most critical.
It further claims “abuse of a dependent adult, professional negligence, negligence and fraudulent business practices.”
“Had the staff followed standard medical protocols, Emily would have had the opportunity to regain control of her life,” James A. Morris, Jr, the attorney representing Willis and her guardian, told the Mirror. “No patient should ever be subjected to such a horrendous breakdown in clinical care. Her health was ignored until it was too late, and now her life is forever changed.”
“Too many patients who should be receiving life-saving interventions are being lost to negligence,” Morris argued. “We hope this lawsuit will spur real change in how treatment centers handle critical cases.”
‘Not in good shape’
According to the attorney, Willis’ condition is both physically and mentally compromised. “Her physical being is not in good shape,” He told the Daily Star of the woman, who weighed 100 pounds when she arrived at rehab. “she’s lost a great deal of weight and is unable to of course [move much] at all.”
“And so, her physical condition is not good, her mental condition is unknown, but she’s still here. I think that in and of itself says something about her resilience and her desire to live,” Morris shared.
He added that while her cognitive state remains uncertain, there are some responses suggesting limited awareness.
“She does make outward noises from time to time, she does move her body around some, but her eyes do move, she does track,” Morris explained, adding “Whether or not she’s understanding exactly what’s going on is hard for us to determine.”
Brain function unknown
The Daily Star reports that the former adult star is now being cared for at home by her mother. “She is being cared for by her mother in Utah,” Morris confirmed in a statement to the Daily Star. “That may change from day to day because from time to time she needs more care than what she can receive at home.”
The attorney noted that a physiatrist – a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation –has been retained to assess Willis’ current level of brain function and provide expert opinion for the ongoing lawsuit – and for the woman’s recovery.
It’s suspected that she might have locked-in syndrome (LiS), described by the Cleveland Clinic as “total paralysis” with”consciousness and “their “normal cognitive abilities.” Most people, experts explain, “can communicate with eye movements and lead meaningful lives.”
‘Emily is fighting’
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe has been created to support the “path to recovery stretches far ahead of her.”
“With hearts heavier than we ever imagined possible, we find ourselves reaching out for support and care for our beloved Emily Willis – a cherished daughter, sister, and a beacon of light in the lives of all who know her,” her brother, Michael, writes. “Emily’s world, and ours, was turned upside down. With every ounce of her remarkable strength and bravery, Emily is fighting.”
So far, the campaign has raised almost $122,000 and the funds will be used to cover medical bills and travel for family so, when she’s in hospital, “Emily is never alone.”
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