Woolworths worker’s headache turns into terrifying ordeal

A “perfectly healthy” 21-year-old with a bad headache woke to a nightmare when the common problem turned out to be much worse.

A “perfectly healthy” Woolworths worker who went to bed with a headache after her shift on the deli counter is now living a “nightmare” after a brain aneurysm burst.

Annie Barnett, 21, was rushed to hospital in Brisbane when she woke to the “worst pain” she had ever felt where doctors discovered she had five bulging blood vessels on her brain and one of them had exploded, causing an agonising bleed.

After surgeons removed part of her skull to relieve the pressure on her brain and stopped the bleeding, another of Annie’s aneurisms ruptured, causing doctors to fear the worst.

When the university student then had a stroke, her parents were told to say goodbye – but Annie fought on and has miraculously re-learnt to walk, talk and feed herself.

Annie Barnett suffered two ruptured brain aneurisms in a matter of days, with her parents told to say goodbye. Picture: Facebook

After eight weeks at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Annie recently moved to the Princess Alexandra Hospital where she will have further brain surgeries to clip her remaining aneurisms and will undergo rehabilitation.

“What a wild few months. Never take anything for granted. After 2 brain bleeds, many surgeries & missing half my skull to clip the bleeding. Finally getting better & healthier,” she wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.

In an earlier post, Annie – who also runs a social media marketing business – described the experience as “mayhem”, writing she missed her life as a “normal healthy and happy 21 year old”.

“My life has been completely turned upside down, there are concerns regarding my future health, my growing small business & my university degree which I am so close to graduating,” she said.

“Things I took for granted such as coffee dates/ going to the gym/ beach trips & nights out with friends all seem so far in the distant future now.”

But the 21-year-old Woolworths worker pulled through and is now facing more surgeries and months of rehab. Picture: Facebook

Her dad Greg has been documenting her recovery on Facebook. Picture: Facebook

On Facebook, Annie’s dad Greg has shared regular updates, writing he and wife Carol were hoping their daughter would be able to come home for Christmas.

He’s also shared photos of Annie’s post-surgery scars, showing a huge snaking wound across her skull held together with staples.

Annie said on Instagram she misses being ‘normal and healthy’. Picture: Facebook

Her family are now raising money to help cover the cost of her medical bills, with her aunt Lisa Liddelow writing on the GoFundMe the ordeal was far from over.

“The journey is not over for the Barnett family. Annie still has further brain surgeries to face and lots of rehabilitation,” she wrote.

“I have seen heartbreaking worries in the tired bloodshot eyes of my brother and Carol in these past few months and now I also see the huge burden of the financial strain of this.

“Any financial help would be greatly appreciated to help Annie and her parents.”

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