Big Life № 2.06 | Aimee Copeland
Before her accident in 2012, Aimee Copeland lived to be outdoors. She climbed rocks, and backpacked deep into the woods to camp whenever she wasn’t working two jobs or studying psychology at the University of West Georgia.
On a beautiful day on the first of May, Aimee and some friends found a homemade zip-line suspended over the Little Tallapoosa River. The zip-line broke during Aimee’s second ride. She fell on rocks below cutting a large gash in her outer-left calf.
Three days later she was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis commonly referred to as flesh-eating bacteria. She lost parts of all four limbs due to the infection. Doctors told her she had little chance of survival, but not only is Aimee a surviver, she is a thriver.
Aimee’s love of outdoor adventure didn’t go away, but life as an amputee using a wheelchair meant she had to find new ways to do things she loves. She swims, kayaks, bikes, and even water skis. She has two Master’s Degrees, and now works as a licensed master of social work, and a practicing mental health counselor.
Her foundation, The Aimee Copeland Foundation is working to make every place, especially public outdoor spaces like National Parks, accessible to everyone.
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