A medical professional has suggested that Emily Willis, an adult film star, may be facing a condition known as locked-in syndrome (LiS), echoing concerns expressed by other experts.
Emily Willis, 25, who previously worked in the adult industry, was placed in a coma after experiencing cardiac arrest in February, leaving her in critical condition.
According to TMZ, Willis’ stepfather confirmed she had been undergoing rehabilitation treatment prior to the cardiac incident.
Her family initiated a GoFundMe campaign to support her, which has accumulated $94,028 at the time of writing.
Recent updates have indicated that Willis is ‘fighting’ and showing ‘some signs of responsiveness such as eye tracking,’ prompting various medical professionals to provide their insights.
Earlier this year, Doctor Gareth Nye shared with the Daily Star that it seemed like Willis might be suffering from locked-in syndrome.
Locked-in syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that results in muscle paralysis while the individual remains conscious and maintains normal cognitive abilities. According to the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, fewer than 1,000 people in the US are believed to live with LiS, but they can lead meaningful lives.
“It’s sort of called a pseudocoma,” explained Dr. Hofeldt, a board-certified health expert, to The Mirror US. “Likely what happened is she had her cardiac arrest, and she had decreased perfusion [blood flow] to her brain, and it hit that part of her brain stem that’s involved in the nerves that go from the brain to the spinal through the spinal cord into the muscle.
“And so she is in a state of likely total paralysis.”
Dr. Hofeldt noted that while recovery is possible for Willis, the chances are ‘poor.’ He stated that it would be ‘very unusual’ for her to regain the ability to walk independently.
He further explained that if Willis indeed has LiS, she may not walk again independently due to damage to the pons, a nerve group connecting the brain to the spine, which affects leg muscle function.
No recent updates on Willis’ condition have been released. Dr. Nye has mentioned that prolonged immobility or vegetative states can make recovery more challenging.
“[What is] of concern is the breakdown and loss of muscle mass,” Dr. Nye highlighted.
“There are studies suggesting that people admitted to ICU or are in a coma-like state lose around 2 percent of their muscle mass per day.
“This significantly affects future mobility and is crucial for the muscles aiding in breathing.
“If they degrade enough, it can become nearly impossible for patients to wean off ventilation systems and breathe independently.”
The medical professional has previously mentioned to the Daily Star that Willis’ recovery hinges on her ‘specific damage’.
“Some exceptional cases show patients recovering,” he noted.
You can contribute to Willis’ official GoFundMe page here.