Blood drive planned for Aimee Copeland, 24-year-old battling flesh-eating infection

(CBS/AP) A blood drive is being held today for Aimee Copeland, the 24-year-old Ga. student battling the flesh-eating infection called necrotizing fasciitis.

The drive will take place at the University of West Georgia, where the psychology graduate student was getting her Master's degree, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Family hopeful as Aimee Copeland communicates through lip reading, but more amputations likely
PICTURES: Ga. student fights to survive flesh-eating bacterial infection

Copeland got the infection May 1, following an accident on a homemade zip line located on a Ga. river. The accident caused a deep gash that eventually required 22 staples to close. Bacteria known as WT (wild type) Aeromonas hydrophila strain SSU or simply Aeromonas hydrophila that's found in warm, brackish waters entered the cut, causing the flesh-eating infection.

Necrotizing fasciitis spreads quickly, and doctors had already amputated most of Copeland's left leg to save her life. Her parents said she'll likely lose her fingers as well, though doctors hope to save the palms of her hands, which could allow her to one day use prosthetic fingers. Her family previously said she'd lose her hands and other foot because blood vessels in them were dying, but that there were no signs of brain damage and her lung function was improving.

Copeland's father Andy went on NBC's "Today" show on Monday saying his daughter remains unaware of her situation that has made national headlines. Despite a breathing tube in her throat, she's mouthed questions such as "Where am I?" and "How long have I been here?" The family has been communicating through lip reading. It's not clear when the breathing tube will come out.

"Obviously she's going to have a lot of questions and there will be a lot revealed to her that day, a lot of things that are going to generate some very emotional responses from Amy," Copeland's father said.

Copeland's family has remained at her side, playing her favorite music by Bob Marley and others to help her relax and heal. Doctors have given her medication to reduce the stress she's under. Copeland's parents did not immediately respond to interview requests from the Associated Press made through email, a hospital spokeswoman and a family friend. Her doctors were not commenting Monday, said hospital spokeswoman Barclay Bishop.

Her father said in a blog post Monday night on the University of West Georgia psychology department's student website that he will update the public on Aimee's story Tuesday.

"Let me just say that we had a lot of fun with Aimee today," Andy wrote Monday night. "We saw Aimee laugh and smile. She told us some things she wanted, we played games with her and she was very stimulated. It was an amazing time. The nurses were even laughing and saying it sounded like a game show in Aimee's room. I will blog fully every detail tomorrow."

One expert - who is not involved in Copeland's care - said Monday if surgeons have been able to get ahead of the spread of her infection, and if Copeland is on the right antibiotics, then the worst may have passed.

"Every hour that goes by, her prognosis improves," said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University. She probably still has months of care and rehabilitation ahead of her, he said.

Government estimates show about 750 cases of the flesh-eating bacterial infection occur each year, but are most often caused by a type of step germ. Cases like Aimee's caused by Aeromonas hydrophila are even rarer, with one expert saying there have only been a few over the past few decades.

The bacteria are not a threat to most people. Schaffner said, "I could dive in that same stream, in the same place, and if I don't injure myself I'm going to be perfectly fine. It's not going to get on the surface of my skin and burrow in. It doesn't do that."

But it could go through a deep cut or gash like Aimee's. A wound can look clean, but if it's sutured or stapled up too soon it can create the kind of oxygen-deprived environment that helps these bacteria multiply and spread internally. Once established, these rare infections can be tricky to diagnose and treat.

Also, Aeromonas is resistant to some common antibiotics that work against strep and other infections, so it's important that doctors use the best medicines. People with a weakened immune system are at a higher risk for necrotizing fasciitis.