USC, UGA Alumni Associations dedicate event to flesh-eating bacteria victim
What began as an innocent and fun day on the Tallapoosa River in Carrollton, Ga., turned into a tragedy for student Aimee Copeland.
The accident occurred on May 1 when Copeland and friends were using a homemade zip line on the river. The zip line broke and she fell approximately six feet to the water and the rocks below, tearing open her calf on a stone. The injury needed 22 staples to close.
From the injury she contracted a rare flesh-decaying infection called necrotizing fasciitis. For most people, Aeromonas hydrophila, the bacteria that infected Copeland, is not life-threatening. For Copeland, it created an infection that has destroyed flesh and is threatening organs.
So far, she has lost her left leg, right foot and her hands. She was on life support May 4 through May 20, but has since regained consciousness.
The USC and UGA “Border Bash” blood drive will be hosted this year in her honor on Monday, June 11, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 509 Lincoln Street in the Greek Village. UGA will hold a blood drive on its campus at Memorial Hall from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and at Reed Hall from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on June 13.
Andy Copeland, Aimee’s father and a USC Alumnus, appealed to My Carolina and the UGA Alumni Association to host the blood drive. Aimee, who is 24 years old, attended the University of Georgia as an undergraduate and was a graduate student in humanistic psychology at the University of West Georgia at the time of the accident.
“I believe we share a special fellowship of love and compassion and we need to prove to the world that life transcends sports,” said Andy Copeland in a press release by USC Internal Communications. “We should face the world with an effort toward making it a better place for everyone.”
Brad Muller, senior director of communications for My Carolina, said the alumni association was happy to help. “We were very excited for the opportunity to mobilize alumni around a good cause,” he said.
As of Monday, May 21, Aimee had been through more than 200 units of blood products, including red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, platelets and cryo.
“It takes no courage to give blood, it only takes time,” Andy Copeland said in the release. “When you think it’s too much trouble to give blood, think about that 24-year-old gal lying in that hospital bed without a leg, foot and two hands. Think about her stout bravery in the face of fire.”
The alumni association hopes that Aimee Copeland’s story will encourage donors.
“It hits home when there’s a face attached to it,” said Muller. “You’re helping real people and none of it goes to waste.”
The first 100 donors to the campus donation site on Monday will receive a gift from My Carolina and The State newspaper.
The Border Bash blood drive is a nationwide challenge through the Red Cross. Anyone not living in or near Columbia or Athens, Ga., is encouraged to go to any blood donation center to contribute and may declare that the donation is in honor of Copeland.
The family is not asking for donations, but they are accepting them instead of flowers and balloons to help pay for hospital bills.
Andy Copeland has been keeping a blog at aimeecopeland.com with Aimee’s status updates and information.