Aimee Copeland meets with supporters - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

A Georgia woman who survived a rare fleshing-eating disease met with the public in her hometown outside Atlanta.

Dozens of people welcomed Aimee Copeland Friday evening on the Snellville Town Green.

The town has shown tremendous support after Copeland, a 24-year-old University of West Georgia graduate student, contracted a rare infection called necrotizing fasciitis in May after falling from a zip line and gashing her leg. The disease forced doctors to amputate both of her hands, her left leg and her right foot.

"I've just felt you guys with me every step of the way with all of your thoughts and prayers, so I can't say thank you enough. I can't tell you enough how grateful I am to be from a place like this. Not every community would have stood up like that," said Copeland. "If one good thing comes out of my injury, it's that everyone in the community is able to really bond together over something really positive."

CLICK HERE TO WATCH AIMEE THANK SUPPORTERS

Some members of the community said that Aimee's story inspired them.

"I've learned how to stay positive -- I thought I had problems, but now that I've seen her, I know I can stay positive through anything," said 13-year-old Megan Hinesley.

Karen Belton said that she shares a similar story; she lost her legs and one hand to a rare illness. Even she sees Copeland as a symbol.

"It gives other people hope, because everybody doesn't have this. Everybody doesn't get this kind of attention. And so if somebody else can see this on TV and see you can still function --that's the difference between life and death, really," said Belton.

Aimee said that the admiration goes both ways.

"I have to say that everyone in our community has inspired me tremendously to give back, just because of how much they have given to me," said Copeland.

Copeland and her family said the event was an opportunity to say thank you. Since contracting the rare virus that took her hands and parts of both legs, the community has donated thousands of dollars, a car and even a two-story wing to her home designed specifically for her needs.

"It's so awesome to come home from the hospital and have a place to stay that actually suits me," said Aimee.

Copeland seems eager to share the message so many ask her about: how she's found the courage to fight.

"If you think, ‘I'm never going to be able to do this,' you're not going to be able to do it. But if you think 'I'm going to be able to do this. It's really hard, but I'm going to work through it one step at a time, we're going to make this happen,' then I truly believe you will," said Copeland.

Her father, Andy Copeland, announced on his blog this week that he plans to write a book about his daughter's ordeal.


Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.