The Snellville woman who battled back from a rare flesh-decaying infection is set to leave rehab around Aug. 24, and when she does, Aimee Copeland will come home to a new wing designed just for her.
Pulte Homes will hand over the keys to Copeland's new 2,000-square-foot addition to her parents' home on Wednesday. The national home builder, along with 50 of its trade partners, including Home Depot, built the wing at no cost to the Copeland family.
"Aimee's Wing was built to accommodate her needs, designed to fit her personality, and importantly, completed ahead of schedule," said Stephen Haines, vice president for Pulte Homes in Georgia.
Since early July Copeland has been recovering at an east Georgia rehab center from the horrific ordeal that started in early May. That's when the 24-year-old University of West Georgia student contracted a rare infection called necrotizing fasciitis, which caused doctors to amputate her leg, foot and both hands.
The ordeal began when Copeland suffered a deep cut on rocks after falling from a broken zip-line over a west Georgia river. Early on, doctors gave Copeland a slim chance of surviving the infection. Her steadfast battle gained national attention as her father, Andy Copeland, wrote emotional entries about the ordeal in a blog.
Aimee Copeland spent 59 days in an Augusta hospital before going to the rehab center, where she has been racing through physical therapy, according to Andy Copeland.
He noted that his daughter is up to 200 crunches in seven minutes and 400 leg lifts in seven minutes. The exercises will help condition Copeland's body to be strong enough to maneuver in and out of her wheelchair.
She'll be able to continue those exercises in her new home addition, which includes an exercise room.
The addition, estimated to cost $150,000, also has access ramps, an elevator to the home's second floor, guide rails in the bathroom and a separate wash sink Copeland can use to clean her prosthetics. The wing also has a bedroom and a study for Copeland's continued education.
Home Depot volunteers focused on renovating the home's great room. "The Home Depot was honored to work with our vendor partners and service providers to renovate the Copelands' great room, making it safe, comfortable and fully accessible for Aimee when she returns home," said regional vice president Chris Waits.
"The whole thing is totally amazing," Copeland said Thursday. "Everything has been re-engineered with Aimee's needs in mind."
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