Former porn star Emily Willis remains hospitalized after falling into a coma earlier this year due to an unexpected cardiac arrest. The 25-year-old has been unable to move since waking from the coma in May, only able to track movement with her eyes.
Dr. Gareth Nye, a medical expert at the University of Chester, has raised concerns about Willis’s condition, suggesting she may be experiencing locked-in syndrome. This rare neurological disorder occurs when damage to the brainstem leads to total paralysis while leaving cognitive abilities intact. Dr. Nye explained, “What we are seeing here is the damage to the brain following a lack of oxygen after the cardiac arrest.”
Despite being conscious, Willis cannot chew, swallow, speak, or make facial expressions. Most individuals with locked-in syndrome can move their eyes and blink, and they retain the ability to hear and understand their surroundings.
Dr. Nye highlighted the severity of her situation, noting, “The longer a patient remains in an immobile or vegetative state, the harder it is for them to return to their previous level of health.” He expressed concern over muscle loss, stating that patients in a coma can lose about two percent of muscle mass per day, which significantly impacts mobility and the ability to breathe independently.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support Willis, who entered the adult film industry in 2017 and has appeared in over 700 productions.
