Aimee Copeland agrees to painkillers following skin graft surgery despite previous refusal

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(CBS News) Aimee Copeland's pain has been so severe as she recovers from a flesh-eating infection that she is now taking painkillers despite her beliefs against it, her father said Sunday

Initially Copeland had refused medication during dressing changes for her skin grafts because of her "personal convictions." She has been battling against necrotizing fasciitis since a May 1 zipline accident. The 24-year-old's masters' thesis at the University of West Georgia focused on using holistic treatments and meditation to treat pain.

Flesh-eating bacteria victim Aimee Copeland refusing pain meds because of personal "convictions"
PICTURES: Ga. student fights to survive flesh-eating bacterial infection

But in a Father's Day blog post from Andy Copeland, who has been tracking his daughter's progress for the public, he said a surgery Aimee needed on Friday caused pain far more severe than any dressing change. The pain was so bad that even if Aimee had refused, doctors would have administered the pain relievers - such as Morphine - in an intravenous drip. Fortunately, Aimee did not say no.

"Please believe me when I say that Aimee's refusal to use pain medication has ceased following her most recent surgery," Andy Copeland wrote. "She is now requesting it ahead of schedule."

Andy said his daughter's pain previously had been focused on her amputation sites - a wound on her left side and her right thigh - which had been used as a skin donor site for skin grafts, procedures which take skin from another area of the body to transplant it over a wound. In her latest surgery, doctors were forced to take muscle from Aimee's abdomen to create a flap over the iliac artery in her groin for a skin graft. The procedure resulted in major pain in both those areas so severe that she cries from it.

"She says that she feels like a patchwork quilt, because her body is a collection of skin grafts and bandages," he wrote. "If I could take that pain away from her I would do it in a heartbeat... If she needs anymore 'muscle flaps,' I am going to demand that they take it from me. I so much want her to move past this stage of her illness."

Aimee has also had trouble keeping solid foods down, and the vomiting causes her even more pain.

"Amazingly, although she is suffering immensely, Aimee's presence of mind is sharp," Andy wrote. He said his daughter despite all her pain wished him a Happy Father's Day and he had to resist the urge to hug her because he didn't want to cause her more pain.

"To all those other fathers out there, hug your children and savor them," Andy Copeland wrote. "Help them to grow into fine examples of humanity for everyone around them."

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Ga. student fights to survive flesh-eating bacterial infection

[skitbit]

Aren't their HIPAA rules against this kind of exploitation of the medical treatment of this young gal?

[sbdc1213]

Yes, if the hospital was the one releasing all this information. She is being exploited by her father via his blog. Not by the medical practitioners that are held to HIPAA rules.

[2happy2ride]

It's hard to comprehend the ignorance & mental myopathy in some of these posts. Some of you really need help.

[2happy2ride]

Aimee, we're continually praying for you.

[wizardlady]

People should only criticize others
after they have "walked two miles in their shoes." How then can anyone have anything negative to say about this young lady for I dare say none of us would trade places with her and experience all her pain and suffering?

She has my admiration for being so steadfast in her belief system, and her expressed desire to survive knowing the limitations being placed on her future makes me ever so thankful for my own life.

May the FORCE be with her!

[KPeters_from_UK]

It amazes me too how many judgemental people there are. So many criticize her for what I see as bravery. Why can't we praise her for her stamina, for her obviously higher pain threshold, her convictions and principles, her supportive family, her need to conquer fear, her belief in mind control or a higher being, exploring her character, looking failure in the face and accepting it, understanding her own limitations?

Really, are those points things society must condemn or embrace? To me these are strong character traits that should be praised 'cos no way would I ever deny myself even one frickin aspirin. I cry even when I get a paper cut.

We could learn a lot from Aimee; emotionally and scientifically.

[busterdawgggy]

It is interesting that a number of posters here criticize this woman for her beliefs, and, incredibly, even the spelling of her name. She has a right to her views, even if they are different from yours. That does not make it OK for one to denigrate her. On pain meds or off them, she is a courageous young woman. She has lost hands, feet and leg. Every day for her is hell. And she fights on. How can anyone criticize her? There are some petty people posting here. You should be thankful that you don't have to go through what she is having to endure.

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

I do not understand a "belief" system that dictates that one suffer needlessly.

Makes me think she'd make her children suffer needlessly as well if she ever has any.

[skeezix06]

It's a good thing she's taking the painkillers, but let me float a possible theory out here for some of you. If she had previous surgery when she was younger, is it possible she got into holistic medicine originally because she didn't like the side effect the painkillers had on her?

[David_Tampa]

Interesting "conviction".., Let's see here.... This woman feel that it is acceptable to be in agony so severe that she is affecting all of those around her. Narcissistic..... period.

[David_Tampa]

Ever notice that women who do this type of thing misspell their name? Another way of constantly bring attention on themselves

[gnimelf1968]

@David,
As far as I know most people are GIVEN their names. Most people spell their children's names different now a days so they stand out. Where do you people come up with this cr@p?

[jntlw]

Aimee has more courage than I would have. God bless her! I pray that if she wants to live after all she has been through, that God will heal her and bless her with something very special she can do for Him.

[JM68]

your god did this do her, didn't he?

[audemus]

JM, how do you know it wasn't....SATAN ?

[DC_Clark]

I too had a skin graft on my neck from a wound I suffered in Nam to this day 43 yrs later the donor area on my thigh is tender and looks worse than my neck. I feel so sorry for this young girl but she must take the pain meds.