This undated photo provided by the family shows Aimee Copeland, the 24-year-old Georgia graduate student fighting to survive a flesh-eating bacterial infection. (AP/Copeland Family)
For the first time since being hospitalized for flesh-eating bacteria, Aimee Copeland said her first words, her father posted on his blog, WRDW.com reported.
"Today…May 27……is AIMEE DAY!!! Sunday, Aimee has finally spoken her first words. I will follow with details tonight," Andy Copeland reportedly posted to his blog, before promising to provide more details later.
The development comes just days after doctors had to amputate Copeland’s hands and remaining foot in order to stop the spread of the disease. While she still remains in critical condition, she has been making big strides, recently starting to breathe on her own without the use of a ventilator.
Copeland, 24, had surprised doctors by sitting for five hours on Tuesday after nurses thought she’d only be able to sit up for an hour.
She has necrotizing fasciitis – a rapidly spreading infection that causes the destruction of the skin and muscles – after falling from a homemade zip line near a creak and cutting her leg open.
Initially, her left leg had to be amputated, and doctors said her chances of her survival were “slim to none." But her struggle has since captured the attention and support of many across the nation.
Copeland's father turns to Facebook to ask people to "believe and pray for a miracle to happen."
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