Actress Emily Willis Suffers Brain Injury After Cardiac Arrest
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Actress Emily Willis Suffers Brain Injury After Cardiac Arrest
- Emily Willis suffered a cardiac arrest in February 2024 at a rehabilitation facility, leading to severe brain damage and a diagnosis of locked-in syndrome.
- Her family, including mother Yesenia Cooper and brother Michael, has been providing updates on her condition and pursuing legal action.
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Emily Willis, a 27-year-old actress, sustained severe brain damage after a cardiac arrest on February 4, 2024, while at a rehabilitation center in Malibu, California. She had checked into the facility on January 27, 2024, for ketamine and alcohol addiction.
Reports indicate that Willis was found unresponsive and not breathing by a nurse, and it took 30 to 40 minutes of CPR before a pulse was restored. The prolonged lack of oxygen to her brain resulted in an anoxic brain injury, leading to a coma that lasted nearly two months. Upon regaining consciousness, doctors believed she had developed locked-in syndrome, a rare neurological disorder where a patient is almost entirely paralyzed but remains fully aware.
Her family has alleged negligence on the part of the rehabilitation facility, claiming that Willis’s deteriorating health, including symptoms like severe chills, tremors, increased heart rate, and disorientation, were not properly addressed. A lawsuit was filed in December 2024, accusing the facility of “abuse of a dependent adult, professional negligence, negligence and fraudulent business practices.” In July 2026, a $3 million settlement was approved, with approximately $1.25 million set aside in a trust for her care after fees and liens. The facility has denied wrongdoing.
Emily’s mother, Yesenia Cooper, has moved her to Mexico for care, where nursing is more affordable, and continues to seek specialized neurological procedures, possibly in Spain, to stimulate brain functions related to speech, communication, and movement. While she remains in need of around-the-clock care, her family reports some progress, including being able to sleep on her own, track people with her eyes, and watch movies. Her mother has also noted instances of frustration, such as screaming and kicking, which she interprets as signs of Emily’s awareness of her condition.