Health

Update: Parents Learn to Read Lips of Daughter Who Fell Victim to Flesh-Eating Bacteria After Zip Line Fall

Georgia Woman Suffering Through Severe Flesh Eating Bacterial Infection But Parents Say She Is Lucky to Be Alive

Aimee Copeland struggles to survive a rare, flesh-eating bacterial infection. (Photo: AP video screenshot)

ATLANTA (The Blaze/AP) — The parents of a young Georgia woman battling a flesh-eating bacterial infection said Monday they’ve learned to read lips and are now able to communicate with their daughter despite a breathing tube in her throat.

Related: Georgia Woman, 24, Battles Flesh-eating Disease
Speaking on NBC’s “Today” show Monday, Andy Copeland says his daughter Aimee told them she was thirsty, and that ice cream is the first thing she wants when she’s able to eat on her own.

Watch this AP report:

“We just take it each day at a time,” he said. “My daughter’s strong, she really is.”

Aimee Copeland, 24, will lose her fingers but doctors hope to save the palms of her hands, which could allow her to someday use prosthetics, her father said in an online update.

“Aimee is alert and trying to mouth questions,” Andy Copeland wrote on a website created to provide updates to friends and supporters. “Her breathing tube has been reoriented to increase her comfort and allow them to try to read her lips. She said: ‘I can’t talk!’ We told her it was because of the tube, and we explained the need for it. ‘Take it out!‘ She also asked ’What happened?‘ and ’Where am I?’”

The illness has already led doctors in Augusta to amputate most of her left leg. She contracted the rare infection, called necrotizing fasciitis, after falling from a broken zip line and gashing her leg on May 1.

Infections by so-called flesh-eating bacteria are rare but sometimes can run rampant after even minor cuts or scratches. The affliction can destroy muscle, fat and skin tissue. The bacteria that infected Copeland is a bug called Aeromonas hydrophila.

Aimee Copeland hasn’t been told of the exact extent of her injuries, but asked how long she’s been in the hospital, her father said in the “Today” show interview.

Watch Today’s interview with the family:

 

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When told that she’s been hospitalized for several days, she expressed concern about completing coursework at the University of West Georgia, where she’s a graduate student, her father said. She also worried about missing work at a cafe in Carrollton.

Aimee’s father maintains a daily blog of her progress in the hospital. Over Mother’s Day Andy said his daughter was still at 33 percent wellness, although the fact that she was alert and disliking her ventilator was taken as a good sign:

Just to let you know what it must be like to breathe through a ventilator, imagine having to suck air through a straw for days on end. No thanks. Well, that’s what it is like for Aimee. No wonder she hates it.

She still has questions, basically the same questions that we have already answered. They are giving her medication to help her forget the stress she’s under, so that explains her inability to recollect many things. This is good for her, but mildly frustrating for us. It frustrates me because I want her to be able to focus on what she can control, not on things she cannot control. I tell her not to worry, I tell her to concentrate on breathing, I ask her to pray and meditate on healing. I hold her and pray while she prays. This is all we can do now and I can honestly say it works quite well.

In addition to battling this bacterial infection, Today also reported that Aimee was also recently diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disorder, which could be why the bacteria has had such an effect on her.

Comments (44)

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  • Vickie Dhaene
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 10:31am

    Prayers going out to Aimee and her family.

    Report Post »  
  • searching for the Truth
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 9:55am

    When one gets a cut – immediately apply iodine – that’s if not outlawed by doctors.

    Report Post »  
  • csbaby
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 9:32am

    Am definitely praying for this beautiful young woman and her family. Doctors are doing what they do – practicing medicine. Unfortunately, they are using Aimee to practice on. Call it research. I pray it works, but I pray for strength for her family to endure what they are going to have to go through. Miracles – let’s all pray for miracles.

    Report Post » csbaby  
  • Tigress1
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 9:08am

    This is so horrible. I hope there are scientists who are doing research on this bacteria. A cure needs to be found SOON!

    I am praying for this young woman and her family.

    Report Post » Tigress1  
    • Dismayed Veteran
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 11:53am

      I pray for this young woman and her family.

      I doubt that there is much research going on. The companion article has the following statement.

      “Flesh-eating Aeromonas cases are considered extremely rare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not keep statistics and only a handful of infections have been reported in medical journals over the last few decades.”

      “Few” means more than 2 but not as many as “several”. Using that defintion, there were a very small number of cases in at least 20 years.

      Cures for rare diseases aren’t typically researched because the return on investment is so low. In essences, the cure would be upside down to the cost of research, develolpment and manufacture.

      Report Post » Dismayed Veteran  
  • hogtrashhd
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 8:58am

    the doctors are whittling her away.. i hate to say it but they need to let her go. she won’t have any fingers, toes legs and probably arms and more will come off and then die .. and the pain.. come on. these doctors will kill you before they’ll cure you. and they have absolutely no idea of what they‘re doing and under normal condtions don’t care.. .. none. ahh but the spotlight is on them now so this poor child will suffer all under their guise of how they’re helping her.. they’re phonys and evil.. quality comes over quantity of life. this poor girl should have been left to God..

    Report Post »  
  • Free2speakRN
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 8:53am

    Aimee, and family, I pray for you all, and hope you see a Light strong enough to get you through this hard life now and ahead. I hope nothing but the best for you in this life. Please God, in your Way, help them all.

    Report Post »  
  • AMENDMENT
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 8:00am

    Praying for Aimee and her family!

    Report Post » AMENDMENT  
  • sillyfreshness
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 2:09am

    I read that this poor woman also went into cardiac arrest after they amputated her leg. So sad and tragic. I’ve noticed more and more these freakish accidents keep happening more and more. People are having a lot more encounters with flesh eating bacteria than 15 years ago. It’s not even safe to go swimming in rivers and lakes anymore. Other people have died from amoebas going into their brain from swimming in rivers. I don’t know why there is such a rapid increase of this stuff, but it’s becoming more the norm.

    Report Post » sillyfreshness  
    • A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:19am

      A couple of things the parents might want to consider are:

      Colloidal silver and
      Massive intravenous doses of Vitamin C.

      Report Post »  
    • BernieKittyCat
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 8:17am

      There’s way more access to news reports about these kinds of illnesses not to mention better diagnosis. I don’t think they are increasing, just being reported on more. God bless this family and give them all the strength to continue their fight.

      Report Post » BernieKittyCat  
  • KickinBack
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 1:46am

    Like Carl1000…I have been following this as well.

    I’ve been praying for this girl since I heard that she had “slim to none” chance of survival. Yet she’s been fighting it since…And I will continue to pray until she fully recovers.

    Report Post » KickinBack  
  • Ron_WA
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 1:32am

    I pray for this yound lady, her family & friends.

    I’ve been glued to the TV &on-line media ref this story & as much as I hate to say this & I don’t mean to be too, too cynical but I think the parents are somewhat in denial as to the condition to their child – especially the father. I pray for their souls & their ability to deal w/ this.

    Every time an interviewer uses a comments reflecting a somewhat bleak outlook or a anything too negative the parents, again lead by the father quickly steered the subject back too how strong she is & how far she has progress against the odds … he insists she is doing well even though each time she slips back into consciousness she asks the same questions as to where she is, what has happened, she has no sense of time or space or even her condition ; she is non-verbal caregivers & parents are relying on lip & expression reading to treat & comfort her.

    The dad can’t even admit that she has already lost the fingers & that the doc’s were trying to save the palm along w/ nerve & muscle endings which could allow for prosthetic hands in the future.

    I pray for this girl & family but in the end I pray the family can accept the outcome whatever His will may be..

    Report Post » Ron_WA  
    • kaydeebeau
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 5:32am

      I think that the words and deeds of the parents says they are accepting of God’s plan and know that all things work together for good to them who love the Lord. Only the Peace of God that passes all understanding can allow us to be calm in the face of hardship and not become bitter

      Report Post » kaydeebeau  
    • Melika
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 8:06am

      So what do you want the father to do? Break down crying on TV about his daughter’s condition? Should he admit defeat in the face of all this? People who “face reality” tend not to cope as well as those who keep a positive outlook. The time for evaluating the situation is after his daughter is out danger and on the road to recovery. As for her lapses in memory, if you actually read the story before commenting you would know that they are giving her drugs to keep her sedated, which means no long term memory function. I wouldn‘t take that as any sign that she isn’t able to recover her senses once the drugs are removed.

      Report Post »  
    • HappyHaloHousewife
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 8:22am

      I read a book a while back that described a man’s battle with cancer. His doctors began some negative talk, and the wife got up with her husband, put her hand out and told everyone to stay away. She wanted to protect her husband from negative energy or something. He lived. (Wish I could remember the title/author/person?!!argh)

      Report Post » HappyHaloHousewife  
  • greatgrandma
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 1:21am

    Wow! ty everyone for your positive, uplifting, inspiring messages.It is a Blessing for me too, to come into a message board that shows so much love and compassion. God Bless this young girl and her family, may her healing come swiftly.

    Report Post »  
  • Chet Hempstead
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 1:19am

    Update: In what has be seen as a major setback, her lips just fell off.

    Report Post »  
  • cuinsong
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 12:13am

    I wish Aimee well and will keep her in my thoughts. If everyone would just send good thoughts her way it will help.

    Report Post » cuinsong  
  • carl1000
    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 12:01am

    I have been following this for a while. I can say she has changed me – there is a positive thing that can come from something terrible like this. I have been depressed for a while about my life and the path it has taken. I literally got out of my truck yesterday and it hit me. I can walk. I have both legs. I am not sick at all. I can talk, feel, smell, and hear. I immediately felt a happiness over me I haven’t felt in a while – I realized life could be so much worse. I take these simple things for granted every day. Can you image, her lying in that bed, what she would literally give to be ME on my worst day?? I am blessed. She will get through this. She will end up being stronger than we can comprehend.

    Report Post »  
    • FromSeaToSea
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 12:46am

      @CARL1000

      Hope all is well for You too. Here’s a favorite for You, Carl.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwjTT2bqKk0&feature=related

      Report Post »  
    • NE1
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 1:13am

      CARL1000 I hear you! Socrates said “If all our misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be content to take their own and depart.” It’s just another way of saying to be thankful for what you do have, a lot of people out there are far worse off! I posted this video about Nick Vujicic on my FB the other day; here’s a guy who is a true inspiration to the rest of us!

      http://youtu.be/zOzsjEmjjHs

      Report Post »  
  • COFemale
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 11:41pm

    I can’t even imagine waking up and realize a fun activity may actually cause your death. My prayers with her and her family. This has to be a nightmare. The Devil is certainly evil isn’t he.

    Report Post » COFemale  
    • kevinj319
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 4:44pm

      So the devil created bacteria? I thought your god created all creatures.

      Report Post »  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 11:39pm

    A friend of ours was leaving a rodeo event about six years ago, a very successful car dealership owner, he tripped and cut his knee open, and was dead five days later…. No cut is too small NOT to be taken seriously…. Our thoughts and prayers go out to this young lady and her family, it also makes you realize how small your problems really are….may God bless her …AND her Family .

    Report Post »  
  • FromSeaToSea
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 11:35pm

    Sorry for the doubles everyone. Blaze needs to get these posted quicker so we know we are heard.

    Report Post »  
  • FromSeaToSea
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 11:29pm

    This is for Aimee………….

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx_4zeb8trs&feature=related

    Report Post »  
  • FromSeaToSea
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 11:24pm

    To Aimee & Her Parents——Dedicated To Your Family

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx_4zeb8trs&feature=related

    Report Post »  
  • FromSeaToSea
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 11:23pm

    This Is For You – Aimee & Your Parents

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx_4zeb8trs&feature=related

    Report Post »  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 11:18pm

    …
    This is so sad. No family should have to go through this nightmare.
    God, please bless and protect this young lady. Make her healthy again.

    Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 11:25pm

      What took NBC so long ? .. Rush Babes for America on Facebook have been praying for her and sending messages and supporting the family since May 9th.

      http://www.facebook.com/RushBabesforAmerica

      Report Post »  
    • SShink
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 8:25am

      CATB – What took NBC so long?
      This has nothing to do with how wonderful prezident odumma is, that’s what took so long. They’re busy on odummas re-election strategy.

      Report Post »  
  • PeachyinGA
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 11:16pm

    Thank you Blaze for posting this story. Praying for her and her family.

    Report Post » PeachyinGA  
  • klevalt
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 11:13pm

    Wow… Lupus THEN this terrible invasion. Prayers for healing, Sister.

    Report Post » klevalt  
  • trueamerican40
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 11:10pm

    God bless her and her family. I’m single right now and I think she is hot…I would marry her and stick beside her no matter what. As long as she is not a liberal communist, sure I would marry her.

    Report Post » trueamerican40  
  • whatthecrazy
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 11:09pm

    horrible!!!!!!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
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