Flesh-eating bacteria victim Aimee Copeland speaks for first time

A Georgia woman battling a flesh-eating disease has spoken for the first time since being hospitalized for the bacteria earlier this month, her father said.

Andy Copeland said in an interview with The Associated Press on Monday that he was in church Sunday morning when his daughter Aimee spoke her first words.

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"I was so excited I wanted to spring up out of the pew and into the aisle and do a dance," he posted on the family's website Monday, according to CNN. "My fellow Baptists probably would not have appreciated that, so I resisted the urge. Instead, my fingers danced across my phone."

His other daughter, Paige, was there and told him Aimee said, "Hello. Whoa. Wow, my mind is blown."

On Aimee's blog, Andy Copeland wrote: "Today…May 27……is AIMEE DAY!!!Sunday, Aimee has finally spoken her first words. I will follow with details tonight."

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Aimee Copeland, a 24-year-old graduate student, developed necrotizing faciitis after falling from a zipline over a west Georgia river and cutting her leg on May 1, Augusta, Ga., TV station WRDW reported.

Her left leg, other foot and both hands have been amputated. She began breathing on her own last week, according to the AP.

Andy Copeland has written regularly since about his daughter's fight, with more than 72,500 "likes" on his Facebook blog. The psychology department at the University of West Georgia — where Aimee has been pursuing her master's degree in psychology — has also posted regular updates online, according to CNN.