Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Aimie Copeland

The story of Aimie Copeland from Snellville, Georgia has gone around the world. Have you heard about her?  She is a very beautiful twenty four year old working towards her Masters degree in psychology.  On May 1st, she was on a homemade zipline over a river in Georgia and fell and cut her leg, requiring 22 staples to close the wound.   Later in the week, she became quite ill and was taken to the emergency room and was diagnosed has having the flesh eating bacteria-aeromonas hydrophila.   Her leg was first amputated and then her foot.  Just over this past weekend, her doctors had to inform the family and they had to tell Aimie that her hands had to be amputated.

You may read the story about Aimie written by her father. Andy Copeland at 
www.aimeecopeland.com


If you have a chance, please click on the link above and read about this incredible story of courage and faith by this extraordinary young woman.  I do not know Aimie Copeland personally but Snellville is so close to Conyers that a nice woman at my church DOES live in Snellville and she does know the family.  She has asked us at our church to pray for the Copeland family and I ask you to do the same.

Noah Window at St. Simon's Church, Conyers, Georgia

One of the songs that they played for her in the hospital was "Better Together" by Jack Johnson.  I found it for you on Youtube.  I hope you will listen to it and think of Aimie Copeland.  

22 comments:

  1. Oh Kay. Whew. Thank you for sharing this story. I hadn't heard about it (sometimes I think I live under a rock). I just read the Dad's last few posts and I'm not sure whether to smile, cry, laugh or fall apart. Aimee is obviously amazing. As is her father ~ you can tell just from the way he writes the updates. What a sad and tragic story. It's going to take me a while to take in all that I've just read and heard about. Better Together has always been one of my favorite songs (as are most of Jack's songs!) but I will probably think of Aimee every time I hear it going forward. I can't stop thinking about how I've been complaining about my nails for the past few days ~ they're unmanicured and I've nibbled a few and they look ugly. Your post and those updates have knocked me right into my place ~ I am so damned thankful for these hands. So thankful. And now I'm crying thinking of all those things that Aimee will never be able to do with her hands. May need to digest and regroup and maybe comment again later when I have my wits about me....

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    1. Dear Audrey,
      Thanks for your comment. There had been so much on the news recently on this, but I felt that what her father had written was so good that I wanted my blog readers to see it. Also, you have two little ones, my friend, I keep telling you that, be kind to yourself! I think I went for almost twenty years without completely hearing all the news!
      We should be thankful, all of us, everyday for all that we have.

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  2. i knew of this young woman.

    she is going to start where she is. she must be an incredible person

    thanks, kay

    love
    kj

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    1. Dear kj,
      Thanks for your comment, I know you are creating some powerful positive energy for this family. Thank YOU!
      Love,
      Kay

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  3. I can't really imagine what actually happened there; what does it mean, to zipline over a river?
    Anyway, no matter HOW it happened, it is tragically enough THAT it happened, and I wish for Aimee and her family to get all the courage and strength they need.

    As for Jack Johnson's music, the album which contains "Better Together" has been on my CD shelf for years. I find his music very relaxing, touching and different to what a lot of bands are trying to sell as "music" these days.

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    1. Dear Meike,
      Ziplining. I don't know when this new trend has started, ziplines are ropes attached to trees and then you are hooked up (somehow) to these ropes and you "zip" along at usually a great height. This one was homemade and was over a river which had this bacteria, therefore, this tragedy happened.
      It really is a sad story. There have been two other cases of this same flesh-eating bacteria, one a young man and the other a woman who had just given birth to twins...both of them have had skin taken off the abdomen and were not as affected by it as Aimee Copeland.
      Did you read that Aimee swayed to this music as she was in her hospital bed? Amazing story, amazing young woman...

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  4. How very sad that a fun day out resulted in such horrible consequences. They appear to be a close, loving family, with great faith, and I think this will make all the difference to Aimee's recovery.

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    1. Dear Tracey,
      "Great is thy faithfulness...
      Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow"
      I think it makes all the difference in the world!
      Thanks for your comment.
      Love,
      Kay

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  5. Yes, i will be praying for her and her family.

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  6. What a sad story, Kay. I'm so sorry to hear about this young woman. I hand't heard about Aimie Copeland, but I'm glad you shared her story. She is an amazing woman, and I pray that she recovers.

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    1. Dear Martha,
      Thank you and I hope to do a future post about her when she has recovered and is out of the hospital.

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  7. Keeping Aimie in my prayers. Years ago I worked as a physical therapist and one of my patients had necrotizing fasciitis like Aimie, and lost her lower limbs. She survived, and with the help of family, friends and community reclaimed her independence. I pray that Aimie will do the same surrounded and supported by those who love her.

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    1. Dear Mairead,
      I thank you so much for your comment, from someone who knows what this must be like.

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  8. That is so sad, Kay. I do remember reading this story online, but you made it more personal. I pray for this young womans recovery, too.

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    1. Thank you so much Dorothy. The nice woman from my church says this is such a nice family.

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  9. Yes, I did read about Aimie, Kay, and was inspired by her courage and the great love and support her family and friends have shown her. I said prayers for her when I heard about her situation, and shall certainly do so again.

    I love that Jack Johnson song, too. I first heard him years ago when I was going through hardship and really enjoyed how happy his songs made me feel. How wonderful that music is part of Aimie's healing---it has been so for me, as well.

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    1. Thanks, Beth, and I wonder if Jack Johnson knows how healing his music is for people? Music is so wonderful!

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  10. Hi Kay, Yes, we've been reading about up here. What a shocking outcome from a gash and fall in a river... unthinkable really. I pray she steadily improves from this point on.

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    1. Dear Jane,
      Thanks and I have read that there have been other cases like this in the South, but most have been from Georgia.

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  11. Oh, that is so sad about Aimie. Praying for her too. What a brave young woman.

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    1. Dear Biddy,
      Thanks for commenting. I really wanted to let folks see the link to her Dad's blog. I found his writing very moving.

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