Bundaberg teen Emilie Goodwin’s remarkable recovery after brain bleed

Emilie Goodwin was just 19 when her mum found her unconscious on her bathroom floor after a shock brain bleed. Almost nine months later, the family is still searching for answers.

Emilie Goodwin in hospital with mum Amanda Ball.

A Bundaberg family has been reunited with the LifeFlight critical care doctor and Queensland Ambulance Service flight paramedic who saved their teenage daughter’s life after a sudden brain bleed.

In June 2024, Emilie Goodwin’s mother Amanda Ball found her daughter unconscious in the bathroom of their family home.

She immediately called an ambulance, and Miss Goodwin was rushed to Bundaberg Hospital where doctors determined she needed to be urgently flown to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

Emilie Goodwin in hospital with mum Amanda Ball.

LifeFlight critical care doctor Aaron Quay and QAS flight paramedic Kevin Charteris arrived at the hospital to begin working on Miss Goodwin.
Ms Ball said Mr Charteris’ caring and compassionate reassurance during such a traumatic event was ‘amazing’.

“He saw my face and came over and told me, ‘It’s all right, we’re going to get you to Brisbane and I’m going to be in the helicopter with Emilie,” she said.

“He explained what was happening to Emilie and said she had a brain bleed and cerebral haemorrhage.

“As a parent, when you have no idea what is happening to your child, it is a sense of relief that they are in caring hands.”

Emilie Goodwin has recovered.

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

Ms Ball said brain injuries like her daughter’s had a 50–80 per cent mortality rate or resulted in lifelong disabilities.

Eight months later, Emilie’s recovery has astounded her neurosurgeons and brought closure to her family after meeting the crew that saved her.
“The recovery process for Emilie has been a long road with OT appts, physio appointments, and lots of [Doctor’s] and brain injury support appointments,” Ms Ball said.
Some of the challenges early on was Miss Goodwin having to swallow properly so she could eat again and now suffers with ‘some cognitive changes’.
“We will embrace the new her,” Ms Ball said.
“Emilie’s life was upturned from her brain bleed.
“Her complete independence as a 19-year-old was taken away.
“She is still unable to drive, although we are close to having medical clearance so she can drive again.”

Ms Ball said they ‘still have no answers’ as to why Miss Goodwin had her brain bleed.
“We have been told we might never know exactly what was the cause,” Ms Ball said.

Emilie Goodwin with her Lifeflight crew.

“I was so happy to meet Kevin and Dr Aaron,” Miss Goodwin said. “They saved my life.”

Miss Goodwin said she was excited to sit in the helicopter that flew her to Brisbane when she was sick.

Mr Charteris said seeing Miss Goodwin walk into the hangar so bright and full of life was a “gratifying experience”.

“When Emile and her mum gave me a huge tight hug and said thank you, it brought tears of joy to my eyes,” he said.

“Emilie and her family have powered through a long rehabilitation program and it is so great to hear that Emilie is back at work,” Mr Charteris said.
Ms Ball said meeting the people who helped save her daughter was “life changing”.

“From a mother’s perspective, it was such a healing moment and a lot of closure finding out exactly what and why they did what they did for Emilie on that fateful morning,” she said.

Bundaberg teen Emilie Goodwin has recovered from a catastrophic brain bleed.

“Watching Emilie’s life drastically change for the last eight months recovering from a brain bleed, having her independence taken away and then seeing her face light up when she visited LifeFlight and hop in the helicopter is a beautiful end to a crazy time.”

Originally published as Bundaberg teen Emilie Goodwin’s remarkable recovery after brain bleed