Aimee Copeland leaves Ga. hospital after two-month battle with flesh-eating infection

Aimee Copeland poses outside Doctors Hospital in Augusta, Ga in this Saturday, June 23, 2012 file photo provided by the Copeland family.

/ AP Photo/Copeland Family

(CBS/AP) Aimee Copeland, the Georgia woman with a rare flesh-eating infection, has left the hospital after nearly two months and is headed for inpatient rehabilitation.

Flesh-eating bacteria victim Aimee Copeland leaves hospital room for first time in 49 days
Ga. student's amazing recovery from flesh-eating infection

Copeland was released Monday from Doctors Hospital in Augusta. The 24-year-old psychology graduate student at the University of West Georgia will spend the next several weeks learning to move with the aid of a wheelchair after having her left leg, right foot and both hands amputated.

Copeland contracted the rare infection after she suffered a deep cut falling from a broken zip-line May 1 along the Tallapoosa River. Aeromonas hydrophila bacteria - that's found in warm, brackish waters - entered the cut, leading to infection. The bacterial infection emits toxins that cut off blood flow to parts of the body, destroying muscles, fat and skin tissue.

Copeland's speedy recovery has defied doctors' initial prognosis. Her father says they at first gave her just a slim chance of surviving. She spent weeks sedated and using a respirator while undergoing amputations and painful skin grafts to replace infected skin.

It was a bittersweet farewell for Copeland, said her father Andy Copeland in an interview with The Associated Press.

"She hated to see a lot of people she loves, to say goodbye," her father said. "The sweet is that she is moving on to the next phase."

Copeland's mother arrived at the hospital early to help her get ready for the big day and did her makeup for her, her father said.

A week ago, hospital officials upgraded Copeland's condition from serious to good. Her parents last weekend were able to take her outside the hospital's doors in her wheelchair - her first time outdoors since she arrived at the hospital in May.

Last week, Copeland's father declined to say where her rehabilitation treatment will take place, but mentioned the first two months will deal with learning to move just her amputated limbs - as in shifting from her bed to her wheelchair.

After that, Copeland will move on to another round of therapy in which she'll learn to use prosthetic limbs. Meanwhile, Copeland hopes to use any spare time to complete her master's thesis at the University of West Georgia, where she hopes to obtain a degree by December.

"She's a very determined young lady," her father said. "When she sets her mind to something, she achieves it."

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Ga. student's amazing recovery from flesh-eating infection

[Dontbeslow]

Aimee, you look great in purple and that smile is inspiring. We'll continue to pray for you daily.

[rwsmith29456]

I hope that now she can get on with her life.

[linfinster]

So glad to see you smiling and able to leave the hospital Aimee!! On to finding a new ways to move through life now. All the best to you. You are so brave and have a bright future ahead of you! Best wishes for you!

[baby-boomer-54]

God be with you Aimee and your family....praying for you daily.

[akc87031]

You are a very lucky woman to have a family where you mean so much to them. Your father is an Angel on earth. I'm sure he was at wits end day to day until he knew you were going to be ok. I believe his valiant effort in keeping your fb page current is what kept him positive and you and your family in our prayers. You are a very beautiful woman and whatever you chose to do in life you will more than 1000000% succeed! Your dad needs a big kiss and hug!! I'm sure he has had several already....God bless you and your family!!