Aimee Copeland, flesh-eating necrotizing fasciitis victim, gets help with medical home makeover

Aimee Copeland, the 24-year-old Georgia woman who lost most of her hands, one of her legs and her remaining foot after a flesh-eating bacteria infection, now faces the daunting task of learning how to live her life without her full limbs.

Aimee was released from the hospital Monday and has started physical therapy near her home in Snellville, Georgia. Her father, Andy, says the therapy will take six to eight weeks.

In the meantime, Andy and his wife, Donna, are rapidly giving the house Aimee has lived in since she was 6 years old a medical home makeover.

The Copelands are adding an entire new addition off the back of their house. When Aimee returns, the house will be nearly twice as large and newly equipped for her special needs.

The renovation plans include access ramps, an elevator to the home's second floor, an exercise room Aimee will use to continue her recovery, guide rails in the bathroom, and a separate wash sink Aimee can use to clean her prosthetics.

The plans were only drawn up in the last 12 days. They were drafted with input from Aimee while she recovered in an intensive care unit.

A wrecking crew started the renovation Tuesday by demolishing a two-story porch deck where the new addition will go.

One thing workers are hoping to save is a fig tree that Aimee is fond of. The tree was originally from her great-grandfather's farm, and grows right alongside a portion of the house that is being torn down.