( CNN ) -- Aimee Copeland on Tuesday reached another milestone by being upgraded from critical to serious condition at the Georgia hospital where she has valiantly fought a condition caused by flesh-eating bacteria . According to Doctors Hospital of Augusta , both critical and serious conditions include a patient having vital signs that are unstable and not within normal limits . Whereas a patient in critical condition may be unconscious and have indicators that are `` unfavorable , '' a person in serious condition is acutely ill with indicators that are `` questionable . '' Copeland , 24 , late last month began breathing on her own and talking for the first time in weeks , and even cracked jokes . The bacteria led surgeons to amputate her hands , part of her abdomen , one of her legs and her remaining foot in an effort to stay ahead of the disease . The young Snellville , Georgia , woman 's ordeal began May 1 , when she was riding a makeshift zip line across the Little Tallapoosa River , about 50 miles west of Atlanta . The line snapped , and she fell and got a gash in her left calf that took 22 staples to close . Three days later , still in pain , she went to an emergency room . Doctors eventually determined she had necrotizing fasciitis caused by the flesh-devouring bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila . Surviving flesh-eating bacteria . Since then , her father , Andy , has written regularly about her situation , and the psychology department at the University of West Georgia -- where Aimee has been pursuing her master 's degree in psychology -- also has posted regular updates online . Family counters flesh-eating bacteria with faith .
Aimee Copeland is now listed in serious condition . Copeland , 24 , is battling necrotizing fasciitis caused by flesh-devouring bacteria . She was admitted to a hospital on Friday after complaining of severe pain and nausea.