A University of West Georgia graduate student who lost one limb and will probably lose parts of others to flesh-eating bacteria is mouthing words to her family and showing a "fighting spirit," her father said Friday.
Aimee Copeland is fighting for her life at an Augusta hospital after her left leg and part of her abdomen were removed last week. She contracted the infection after injuring her calf in a zip line accident 10 days ago.
"I would say that she has more commands than questions right now," Andy Copeland told "CNN Newsroom," saying his daughter’s breathing tube was repositioned so her parents could read her lips. "'I can’t talk,' was what she said. And we said, 'We know, honey, you've got a tube down your throat.'
"She said, 'Then take it out.' So her fighting spirit is obviously shining through right now.'
Aimee, 24, contracted the bacteria – Aeromonas hydrophila – during an outing with friends near the Little Tallapoosa River, about 50 miles west of Atlanta, on May 1, her family has said. She fell when a homemade zip line she was using snapped, and she gashed her left calf.
The family has said she sought medical treatment for the wound and received 22 staples to close it, according to CNN affiliate WSB. But on May 4, after she complained of pain for days, a friend took her to an emergency room, and she was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis and flown to Augusta for surgery. She went into cardiac arrest after being removed from the operating table, but was resuscitated, CNN affiliate WGCL reported.
Her father wrote in an Internet post Thursday that her hands and remaining foot also will have to be amputated soon, because blood vessels there have died as the disease has spread. He said Friday that Aimee doesn’t yet know about these next amputations.
"There’s no way I would reveal that to her in her current state. I believe that it would just traumatize her further," he said, adding that a psychiatrist at the hospital will tell her when she's able to talk.
Andy Copeland wrote Thursday that Aimee shows no sign of brain damage and that a doctor said her lungs are healing. On Friday, he told CNN the road ahead for Aimee will be difficult.
"It's obvious (that) if you’re missing one limb, it's going to be hard enough. But if you're missing all of your limbs, it’s going to be incredibly difficult," he said. "But I guess I want everybody to know is that she’s not alone. She’s got her family to support her in this, and not just us."
Thousands of people have connected with a Facebook page that the family also is using to update her progress.
"She's got the support of the entire world right now. And that's really what's humbled us greatly in this entire process, just knowing that everybody's looking at Aimee and praying for Aimee and just offering their undying support. For that, we'll be eternally grateful."
Aimee Copeland, of Snellville, Georgia, is a graduate psychology student at the University of West Georgia and was scheduled to complete her master's degree in the fall, school spokeswoman Yolanda Rodriguez said.
On Thursday night, a couple dozen students and faculty members attended a vigil for her in a building that houses the school’s psychology department.
"Despite the fact that medical evidence says she should be dead, she isn't. I think that’s what makes it so precious to so many people, to see how amazing she really is," Chris Aanstoos, a University of West Georgia professor, told WSB on Thursday.
Dr. Buddy Creech, an assistant professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, said that Aeromonas hydrophila, found in water and elsewhere in the environment, is one of many bacteria that can cause a flesh-eating process.
"When it gets into those deeper tissues, it has a remarkable ability to destroy the tissues that surround it in sort of this hunt for nutrition," Creech said Friday. "When it does that, those tissues die, and you see the inflammation and the swelling and the destruction that can be very difficult to control."
Creech said Aeromonas hydrophila more commonly affects humans when it is swallowed – resulting in diarrhea. When young children or children with immune problems drink water with the bacteria, "they can get a very significant diarrhea illness from it," he said.
"It’s much more uncommon that we see it in (a case like Copeland's), where we see wounds get infected and the infection runs wild,” Creech said.
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God Bless you and we'll be praying for you for a miracle!
I can't imagine dealing with this. I pray for you Aimee.
Praying for the bacteria. Eat, grow, multiply.
I just prayed for you. I prayed that God will give you and your family the grace to endure. My heart goes out to you and your family. God bless you
This story makes me want to cry...but I have to believe in my heart that God knows best. I will say a prayer for this young lady and her family............Amen.
Then the so-called "god" should end her suffering and end her life. What point is to remain on this Earth w/o all limbs? Just human mind trapped in immobile torso...
god knows best?! ya right.
He must know best, I mean, he created the bacteria too, right? I'm sure Aimee will be very appreciative of those mysterious ways of his...
Just stop with the God stuff, it's insulting and condescending.
Im sorry, if your God knows best then this would not have happened,
yes, "God" knows best.
God will make her limbs grow back...
Oh wait, even "God" is bound by reality...
"God" can only control coincidental things, like the face of Jesus in toast or on a dogs butt.
"God"'s miracles never occur on video... because ... miracles never occur.
Miracles occurred in legend, because that was pre-history.
In the past, Yahweh could move mountains and water...
Those were the good old days...
Sorry to say, that magic and the supernatural can only ever exist in legend.
I wish the best for this girl, but it does not help anything to wish for the impossible, or relate the situation to magical beings.
God knows best? Any person who did this to another person or let it happen when action could have prevented it would be arraigned on criminal charges. 'God knows best' is your way of consoling yourself. It is condescending and self absorbed.
I have been praying for this young lady. I feel so bad for her and her family. God please help her.
My heart goes out to this family. I pray that all of you be strong and supportive on this.
WHat a sad but inspiring story. God bless you Aimee. I don't know if I'd have that kind of strength to fight and remain optimistic.
don't worry Tom ol buddy, he won't be blessing her. Remove your head from your *** . There is no He. The world is billions of years old and the bacteria has had millions of years to evolve. I hope the medications and interventions work, but stop with the god BS.
For the most part she's alive and is fighting a tremendous battle. If God says we need to take finger or anything for you to still be alive, then so be it take it. Like her father has said, they have numerous family and friends who will be there by her side regardless of anything that happens to her. Love, hugs, and prayers!
Hey Kevin did you read the article? She has no leg and some of her abdomen is gone because of the bacteria. So slightly more then a finger...
No way there's a god, its a false reality that is used to control and extract wealth from mindless peons that follow. The church banned reading in the dark ages because they didn't want their followers to learn, stay dumb and stay in line. That is still somewhat the case. You won't question what you don't understand right? Good luck buddy, you need it.
Can someone explain why a parent would be on national news media during this time talking about his child's deadly illness? I just never understand this sort of need for the fifteen minutes of fame that a parent would want. I don't think any normal parent would be on national TV about this. I just don't think any teenager would want their parent to be on national TV about this.
I'm sure the press is hounding them – setting up camp, contacting relatives/neighbors. If making a few statements will keep them in line and give the family a few minutes or peace/privacy, who can blame them?
Now – can someone please explain to me how someone can choose to judge the actions of a parent whose child is going through something like this?
really Terry? you think no reporters were trying and hounding the family for information and talking points? PLEASE. Plus the parents could be in a form of shock from this ordeal, watching their daughter slowly eaten alive from the inside. That sort of thing could really effect their idea of how to act in any situation. No way they are in this for 15min of fame, they won't make any money at all from this. You should go back to watching survivor, the kardashans, and whatever other day time drivel you enjoy.
To "nikole's mom": Let me just tell you that "God" does not know best and if there was "God" then this would not be happening, and 3 year old children would not have leukemia. I love how you say that "God knows best" and then also pray to him to fix the problem which you JUST suggested he caused for some unkknown reason. WAKE UP.
Who are you to judge? Every person has their own belief. I, personally, am fully aware and completely believe that God reigns in Heaven, and all of this is part of his plan. Just like you choose not to believe, we choose to put our trust in the Lord.
No matter what u think . We all should stop and think if it was your child .. When you become a parent your world changes!! Everything , the way you think , whats importan to you before, all the sudden is not .. I know I was a selfish, self centered jerk, then I had my little girl .Some things happen to my thinking right then , others happen as my kids get older .. I just sitt here and read some of these comment and I find it hard to believe that some of you are adults and have kids, but then I think back to how I acted before I had my kids and I was just the same . I
I totally agree with you..If there truly was a god why would he cause all of this suffering? Especially to the innocent and helpless. Religion is the root of intolerance and oppression and will not help this poor woman. I truly hope she finds the strength to heal as best she can, and live as normal of a life as possible with this horrible tragedy.
I thought this type of infection spread from the source and didn't jump to other places. One limb is bad enough, all of them, god help her.
Amiee is in my prayers, AS is her family. What they need is support and Encouragement not all you a–holes on here talking about GOD ending her suffering, If you dont believe in GOD then thats Fine NOBODY is forcing you to pray! NOBODY is FORCING YOU TO DO ANYTHING! But to honestly come on here and start arguments, and post negative responses on a story like this, You should be ashamed of yourself! I'd hope if this was you laying in a hospital bed with a tube down your throat about to have MORE LIMBS AMPUTATED that someone would say a prayer for you; REGARDLESS of you religion. Yea Life will be hard for her if she pulls through this, But its human nature to adapt to what life throws at us. She's got her familys support and ALL THEIR ASKING FOR IS SOME SUPPORT FROM US! a few kind words and MAYBE a prayer. So if you choose not to do either just click to the next article and move on with your life.
What a fun story.
If she wants to fight for her life, then it is certainly still worth living. She can still have a lifetime full of value and happiness. Many people with debilitating handicaps go on to live joyful, meaningful lives. I pray that she finds the strength and grace to do the same.