Bethany Hamilton

Despite being attacked by a shark, Bethany Hamilton remained strong. She has grown up loving the sport of surfing. At the age of 13 her life took an unexpected turn which resulted in the loss of her left arm. However, her faith stood strong and less than one month later, she was back in the water learning how to surf all over again. Bethany Hamilton is a miracle because she grew up surfing, got attacked by a shark, and still didn't let that stop her from doing what she loves.

Bethany surfing before the shark attack (http://www.tampabay.com/tb-two/news/bethany-hamilt (Unknown))

The entire Hamilton family has grown up surfing for generations. Tom, Bethany's dad, started surfing when he was 12 years old and Bethany caught her first wave when she was six. Tom Hamilton says, "We are a close, loving family with God at the center. But at heart, we're basically beach bums" (Guideposts.org). You know their daily lives consist of the ocean when "there's always sand on our kitchen floor and towels hanging on the back porch" (Tom Hamilton). Bethany sometimes spends up to 4 hours in the water surfing, but this 13 year old's "normal" life was about to take an unexpected turn.

On October 31, 2003 Bethany went surfing first thing in the morning with her best friend, Alana, Holt (Alana's dad), and Byron (Alana's brother). It started off as a beautiful day, but things would soon change. Bethany was laying on her board sideways when the shark came up and and grabbed her arm and started pulling her back and forth (ABC News). Holt rushed to Bethany and made a tourniquet out of his rash guard, which could've been the reason she survived. Byron called 911 and Bethany's mother and they quickly rushed to the hospital. In an interview Tom says, "Where my daughter's left arm had been there was a mass of bandages" (Guideposts.org). According to her doctor, family, and friends, Bethany had made a "remarkable recovery" and less than one month later, she was back in the water.

Bethany back in the water after being attacked (http://www.surfersvillage.com/content/bethany-hami (Noah Hamilton))

Bethany didn't let having one arm stop her from doing what she loved. In 2007 she became a professional surfer (Bethany Hamilton Profile). Her faith remains incredibly strong and she is not afraid to let people know. She's become a source of inspiration to many people around the world. "Those who have seen her surf say she has an extraordinary gift" (ABC News). Tom said he was wrong to even doubt for a moment that she'd get back in the water.

Bethany has grown up with surfing as second nature to her and her family. Even after something completely devastating had happened, she kept her strong faith and kept doing what she loves. She completely lost her left arm but after one month she was back in the water surfing again. Tom says, "Bethany had the God-given spirit of a champion and nothing, not even a shark, could change that" (Bethany Hamilton Profile). She is a miracle because she grew up surfing, got attacked by a shark, and still didn't let that stop her from doing what she loves. Bethany is a strong, incredible hero, and looked up to by many people.