Emilie Goodwin recovering from catastrophic brain bleed

A 19-year-old Queenslander alive despite a catastrophic brain bleed is now fighting to get back home. Her family say they are lucky to still have their ‘strong girl’, as doctors try to find out why it happened.

Bundaberg teen Emilie Goodwin is recovering from a catastrophic brain bleed.

Bundaberg teenager Emilie Goodwin went to bed one Friday night and failed to wake up.

The 19-year-old had suffered an intraventricular haemorrhage and intracerebral haemorrhage as she slept.

She was found unconscious the next morning and rushed to hospital in Bundaberg before being airlifted in a critical condition to the Royal Brisbane Hospital, where she remains to this day.

On that first day, Saturday, June 1, Emilie underwent emergency brain surgery to relieve the pressure on her brain. She then spent the next six days intubated in the Intensive Care Unit. 

Bundaberg teenager Emilie Goodwin, 19, went to bed one Friday night in late May 2024 and failed to wake up.

Emilie’s mum Amanda Ball said brain injuries like the one her daughter had, had a 50-80 percent mortality rate, or resulted in lifelong disabilities.

“Emilie has beaten the odds,” she said.

“In Emilie’s case she has had an amazing recovery, and we are so blessed and lucky that she is still with us, and her progress has been positive.

“She has been undergoing rehab involving physio, OT and speech and again they are happy with her progress that we are expecting to come home next week to continue her rehab in Bundaberg,” Ms Ball said.
It remains unclear why this happened to Emilie, and further investigations are expected to take place.

Bundaberg teenager Emilie Goodwin went to bed one Friday night in late May 2024 and failed to wake up.

Ms Ball posted this to Facebook about her courageous and strong daughter on June 1:

“I’m usually very private when it comes to my family but this story is about my beautiful daughter Emilie. We are so lucky to still have her here with us. She is one strong girl.

“Thank you so much everyone for your kind words, it is heartwarming to know Emilie has so many people sending loving vibes to her. Emilie has now moved into the rehab unit for the next few weeks to get stronger.”

Ms Ball Zielke described her sister as “the most positive girl you will ever meet and does anything for anyone”.

She said she faced challenges in life as she was autistic, but had not let those challenges stop her.

Emilie Zielke in the Royal Brisbane Hospital where she is recovering from a devastating bleed on the brain.

Emilie’s sister Caila Ball Zielke has since launched a gofundme to help the family through the crisis, with their mum Amanda Ball spending all her time at Emilie’s bedside.

The Royal Brisbane is four hours away from Bundaberg, and Ms Ball is living out of a hotel so she can be with Emilie.

To donate and help the family through this crisis, you can click here.

The page hopes to raise $5000 and was well on the way on Wednesday morning, with $3706.

Emilie’s father Shane has had to return home to work to maintain an income but her mum is by her side.

“Emilie’s journey and recovery are far from over,” Ms Ball Zielke said.
“If you are able to spare any donation to help take the stress off my parents at the moment I would be very grateful. Thank you.”
“I would really like to thank the amazing paramedics, doctors and nurses at the Base Hospital, Care Flight Team and RBWH for saving Emilie’s life.

“Things could have been so different for Emilie if it wasn’t for them.

“They treated Emilie with dignity and compassion every step of the way.

“We are truly lucky to have a dedicated team of highly trained professionals that do all they can to save people’s lives every day,” Ms Ball said.