Wednesday, May 1, 2013
A typically fatal infection took limbs from a Georgia university student, but not her spirit and love for life. Sponsored by Grape-Nuts.
About this sponsorship: In honor of the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary’s historic ascent of Mount Everest, Patch and Grape-Nuts are teaming up to highlight those who inspire people around them to climb their own mountains. In May 2012, Aimee Copeland of Snellville, GA., had just completed her core courses for a master’s degree in psychology when she fell into a creek and cut her leg in an accident involving a homemade zip-line. The wound was infected with typically fatal flesh-eating bacteria in the accident, and Aimee lost her left leg, her right foot and both hands. But she did not lose her spirit. Here, Aimee talks about the challenges she still faces after the amputations, and about others that she has set for herself. Q: …
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Aimee and her father, Andy, spoke at the Salvation Army's yearly fundraiser for its Home Sweet Home program.
Every year, the Salvation Army hosts a luncheon to raise money for its "Home Sweet Home" program. This year, the Lawrenceville nonprofit invited Aimee Copeland and her father Andy as their featured speakers. The theme was "It Takes More than Hands to Make a Home." Andy talked to the audience about how he and his did not lose faith when his daughter Aimee was injured in a zip lining accident almost one year ago. That accident led to a bacterial infection which claimed her limbs, but not her spirit. Watch the video to see Aimee talk about the life changing experience and her plans for the future. --Were you there? What did you think of Andy and Aimee's speech? Tell us in the comment section below.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
According to the website of Friends of Disabled Adults and Children (FODAC) in Stone Mountain, the woman who contracted a flesh-eating bacteria last year will be at its annual event at Stone Mountain Park.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
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Wednesday, March 6
Friends of Disabled Adults and Children (FODAC) in Stone Mountain says Aimee Copeland, the woman in Snellville who contracted a flesh-eating bacteria last May, will be at its annual Run Walk 'N' Roll, at Stone Mountain Park on May 4. The information is posted on FODAC's site, under events. Registration for the five-mile run, walk or wheelchair roll begins at 7 a.m. The run starts at 8 a.m. There's a two-mile walk/roll starting at 9 a.m. Learn more information about this year's Run Walk 'N' Roll here. The charity event benefits FODAC's efforts for the disabled. Copeland required several amputations, including her left leg, right foot and both hands, after she contracted a flesh-eating bacteria following a zipline accident. Snellville Patch …
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
The minivan, donated by Steve Rayman Chevrolet, will be designed to meet Aimee's needs.
WSBTV.com reported that Aimee Copeland was surprised on Tuesday by Smyrna's Steve Rayman Chevrolet, who offered her a vehicle of her choosing. It will be fitted with features that meet Aimee's needs, like a driver's seat that moves to accommodate a wheelchair and hand controls to brake and accelerate. "I'm going to be able to provide her a car, she's going to get in and drive, and there's nothing that will make me feel better in my lifetime," Steve Rayman, owner of Steve Rayman Chevrolet, said to WSBTV. Rayman considers it a "small thing for a woman who has fought so hard." The announcement came after Aimee's interview with Katie Couric, where she walked on stage with a walker just four months after her prognosis was grim. She lost her …
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
After months in the hospital and physical therapy, Aimee is finally back in her Snelville home, and will take part in a celebration on the town green Friday evening.
The Community of Snellville will be out on the city's Towne Green on Friday to welcome home it's bravest fighter, Aimee Copeland, according to Kathy Emanuel, wife of councilman Dave Emanuel. One of Aimee's favorite bands will begin entertaining the crowd at 5 p.m. while Aimee spends some time inside Snellville City Hall speaking with the media. Paige Copeland, a manager at Longhorn's in Monroe, said things have been going well since her sister returned to their Snellville home. Arrangements have been made for Aimee to finally get to meet members of the community who supported her during her long fight back from a flesh eating disease. At about 6:15 p.m. Aimee will move over to the Green to enjoy the music and go on stage herself. Aimee is…
Thursday, August 16, 2012
After only 25 days, Aimee's Wing rivals any "extreme home makeover."
Scores of people packed the driveway and yard belonging to Aimee Copeland and her family. "Every once in a while, maybe even once in a lifetime, an awe-inspiring story comes along," said Ryan Lewis, Vice President of construction for Pulte Homes. "A story of tragedy, a story of prayer, a story of triumph, and after meeting Aimee, I can assure you, a story that has much, much more to be written." Pulte Homes donated the labor and materials for the entire new wing, one that includes a large study where Aimee can finish her thesis and possibly start a counseling practice, an exercise and rehabilitation room, a designer bathroom and lots of details that will make Aimee's transition home easier. The wing was built in 25 days, a feat …
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Snellville Home Makeover: Aimee wil have a brand new space to come home to in a few weeks, including an elevator and a study for her social work practice.
Renovations on Aimee Copeland’s home are almost complete. The new wing is nearly 2,000 square feet and designed with Aimee in mind from top to bottom. From the elevator to the newly fitted bookshelves and wheelchair accessible bathtub, each detail will make transitioning back into life in Snellville a little easier. Pulte Homes is managing the construction. Since Aimee will be coming home sooner than expected, what was going to take a few months originally has been condensed to 40 days. “I went on CNN one night and showed the [plans for the house],” explained Aimee’s father Andy Copeland. “I needed someone who could fast track this wing!” Within three business days, Pulte Homes contacted him. A week later, Copeland had a contract…
Sunday, July 29, 2012
The wife of South Gwinnett math teacher Mark Rinehart recently underwent surgery at Northside Hospital. Both hands and feet were amputated.
The Gwinnett Daily Post reported Saturday that Hannah Rinehart, a patient care technician at DeKalb Medical Hillandale, fell victim to a bacterial infection that claimed both her hands and lower legs. Rinehart developed aches and pains, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post, but once her fever broke the couple put their worries aside. When Hannah, a cancer survivor, went to see her oncologist for an appointment, Mark had to "carry her in." She has been comatose for weeks now. Mark has set up house in the ICU at Northside and rarely leaves her side. "Just played song we danced to at our wedding for my wife (in ICU for 20 days)," he tweeted on July 20. "I asked if she knew I was crazy about her. She nodded yes." At 5 p.m. Saturday…
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Officials from Snellville Tourism and Trade presented a $19,000 check to Andy and Paige Copeland.
It was an unusual time of cheers and tears at the Snellville council meeting on Monday evening, as officials presented a $19,000 check to the Copeland family. Snellville Tourism and Trade, which puts on the city's community events, raised the bulk of the money during a special two-day event dedicated to Aimee Copeland. At the last minute, an anonymous donor put the group over the $17,780 it had planned to present. The young woman's father, Andy Copeland, and sister, Paige Copeland, a manager at Longhorns in Monroe, accepted the check for the Aimee Copeland Fund on behalf of the family. City officials, citizens and volunteers stood, giving the family a round of applause. Fighting through tears, Andy Copeland said: "God bless you all. Thank …
Monday, July 2, 2012
A Snellville woman fighting a flesh-eating bacteria has finally left an Augusta hospital.
After two months of intensive treatment, Snellville woman Aimee Copeland left an Augusta hospital Monday bound for an inpatient recovery center where she will receive extensive care to regain mobility, according to news reports. Physicians at Doctors Hospital amputated the young woman's left leg, right foot and both hands as a result of a rare, flesh-eating bateria that Copeland contracted following a zip-line accident. In an interview with the Associated Press, Andy Copeland, Aimee's father, said his daughter is determined to push forward. "She hated to see a lot of people she loves, to say goodbye," Copeland was quoted as saying. "The sweet is that she is moving on to the next phase." Since her accident in May, Aimee Copeland has …
Bill Bryan
10:38 am on Thursday, May 2, 2013
Strong, courageous, amazing. I'm not sure if there is a word to describe this young lady. That she is already planning to devote her life to helping others is an inspiration. What a beautiful role model! more ›