As Aimee Copeland shows some improvement, friends of the Gwinnett County woman fighting for her life against a rare flesh-decaying bacteria are holding a “Love Aimee” Vigil Thursday evening at the University of West Georgia.
Copeland, 24, a graduate psychology student at the college, was "very responsive and coherent," said her father Andy Copeland. The neurologist says that there is no indication of any brain damage. The cardiopulmonologist says that her lungs are slowly healing.
But Copeland is far from bein gout of the woods. "Unfortunately, her blood vessels in her hands and in her remaining foot have died, and thus they will have to be amputated too," her father said.
Aimee Copeland has been in an Augusta hospital since last Friday after contracting a rare infection from a common bacteria.
She contracted the bacteria -- Aeromonas hydrophila -- last Tuesday as she and friends kayaked and zip-lined along the Little Tallapoosa River. The home-made zip line broke. Copeland fell, causing a deep gash to her leg. Doctors believe the bacteria entered her body through the injury that required nearly two dozen staples to close.
"We are coming together to sit with our love for Aimee," said Ken Lewis, Copeland's friend and fellow psychology student, "and we would love to support her and her family by promoting donations of money [on the website] and blood [on campus, next Tuesday]. " The Univeristy of West Georgia psychology department is organizing the blood drive on campus from 2 to 7 p.m. on May 15, Lewis said.
The family also is requesting blood donations at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta. Any blood type is requested, as Aimee will get credited regardless as to the type donated, her father wrote on Facebook. For more information, check the University of West Georgia psychology students' website.
Also, LifeSouth Community Blood Centers will be at Grace Snell Middle School, 3800 Brushy Fork Road in Loganville, from 9 a.m to 4 p.m. on May 24 handling a blood drive in honor of Aimee Copeland.
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