Community Corner

Aimee Copeland's Home in Final Stage of Renovation

Snellville Home Makeover: Aimee wil have a brand new space to come home to in a few weeks, including an elevator and a study for her social work practice.

Renovations on Aimee Copeland’s home are almost complete. 

The new wing is nearly 2,000 square feet and designed with Aimee in mind from top to bottom.  From the elevator to the newly fitted bookshelves and wheelchair accessible bathtub, each detail will make transitioning back into life in Snellville a little easier. 

Pulte Homes is managing the construction.  Since Aimee will be coming home sooner than expected, what was going to take a few months originally has been condensed to 40 days.  

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“I went on CNN one night and showed the [plans for the house],” explained Aimee’s father Andy Copeland.  “I needed someone who could fast track this wing!”

Within three business days, Pulte Homes contacted him.  A week later, Copeland had a contract. 

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"Everything Pulte Homes is working on is 100 percent donated," said Ryan Lewis, Vice President of Construction Operations for Pulte Homes.  "We, along with over 40 trade partners, have been working hard toward finishing Aimee's wing for when she returns."

At this point, according to Lewis, they are in the paint and drywall stage.  This week they will be repouring the driveway, landscaping and putting the finishing touches on the exterior.  

A Team Effort

Contractors come and go from the house as if it’s a hive.  Yesterday, the gas was turned on; today, crews will finish electrical projects. 

Soon, they will install barnwood paneling in Aimee’s study.  An avid lover of all things natural and wild, barnwood was a material of choice for Aimee.  She didn’t do more than mention it, however, and the idea was soon forgotten.

When the design team mentioned the possibility of adding barnwood paneling of their own accord, the family was thrilled. 

The wing has recessed lighting, a wheelchair friendly bathroom, 

Her study has a lot of light and a large built-in bookcase. 

Moving Forward

Aimee will continue graduate school as planned, but her thesis has changed.  Originally, she planned on writing a dissertation on wilderness therapy; now, her focus is wilderness therapy for amputees.

“With all the soldiers coming back,” said Copeland, “she would have a very unique practice, very stream-lined.  It could even extend to quadriplegics and paraplegics.”

It would help people cope with their new life and be in nature in the same time, according to Copeland. 

As soon as she finishes school she will be able to have her practice in this very office. 

Upstairs, a large room has been built specifically for her rehabilitation.  Copeland is looking at parallel bars or some other type of mechanism so that Aimee can learn to use her prosthetic legs. 

Because any type of mechanism would have to be specially designed for Aimee’s needs, the costs can run high. 

Right now, her workout routine would be strenuous for people with no physical challenges:  she is expected to do 200 crunches in seven minutes, 400 leg lifts in seven minutes, pushups, planks and sideplanks. 

 All of this is so that when she gets home, she can get herself in and out of her wheelchair and maneuver a walker. 

Every little bit offers a little more independence.  

And if you know Aimee, you know that is very important to her. 


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