Flesh-eating disease survivor walks again
Aimee Copeland greeted America for the first time Tuesday, standing tall. Months after the deadly infection that threatened her life and forced multiple amputations, the 24-year-old Snellville, Ga., woman appeared on Katie Couric’s new talk show, “Katie.” She moved slowly but surely on a prosthetic foot, assisted by a walker, as Couric nodded encouragement.
“It felt pretty good,” Copeland said as she settled in. “You take for granted just looking people in the eye.”
Copeland freely discussed the rigors of rehab and the challenge of relearning simple skills like brushing her teeth. Not once did her sunny personality dim.
“I love life,” she said. “It’s a beautiful thing.”
After a May zip-line accident introduced a rare, flesh-decaying bacteria into her system, surgeons had to amputate Copeland’s left leg, right foot and both hands to save her life.
Lawler collapses ringside in Montreal
Professional wrestler and commentator Jerry Lawler was stable in the cardiac care unit of a Montreal hospital after collapsing during a World Wrestling Entertainment event.
The WWE said Lawler suffered a heart attack at the announcers’ table Monday night during “Raw” and was taken from the Bell Centre to a hospital. The 62-year-old Lawler, of Memphis, Tenn., still wrestles and took part in a tag-team match before joining broadcast partner Michael Cole ringside for the rest of the program as a commentator.
Lawler shot to fame in the early 1980s when he feuded with comedian Andy Kaufman. The two wrestled in Memphis, and Lawler famously slapped Kaufman during an appearance on “Late Night With David Letterman.”
The birthday bunch
Country singer George Jones is 81. Actor Ian Holm is 81. Actress Linda Gray is 72. Singer Maria Muldaur is 70. Actor Joe Pantoliano is 61. Actor Peter Scolari is 57. Actress Rachel Ward is 55. Actor-comedian Louis C.K. is 45. Rock musician Larry LaLonde (Primus) is 44. Country singer Jennifer Nettles (Sugarland) is 38. Singer-actress Jennifer Hudson is 31. Actress Emmy Rossum is 26.