Bethany Hamilton

Have you ever thought what it would be like to wake up and within the next couple hours, your life would be changed forever? To most people, if that happened they'd call it quits. Not for Bethany; she had something to fight for. Bethany Hamilton is a hero because of her strength and courage to follow her dreams, no matter the obstacles in her life.

Bethany out on the water doing what she loves (http://www.brittlives2inspire.com/story-bethany-ha ())

Bethany Hamilton dedicated everything she had to surfing; it's what she loves. "Every morning at 5 a.m., she'd take a run on the beach and look for good waves with her friends," her father, Tom Hamilton, said. She was known as a 'soul surfer' taking everything she had and dedicating her mornings and afternoons to practicing. Living by the beach in Hanalei, Kauai, Hawaii helped her pursue her dreams. She put her trust in God everyday going out in the water, knowing what ever happened he'd always be there to protect her.

An average afternoon on the beach went from being enjoyable, to possibly a career ending day for Bethany. As she paddled out to catch a wave, she suddenly lost her arm to a 14 foot tiger shark. "My first thought were just looking down and seeing that I had only one arm. It was a weird feeling" Bethany said. She surprisingly kept her cool through the whole accident, from being rushed out of the water, to the hospital. As she was in the hospital many new fears came to her head. Remembering back to the moment, Bethany said "I remember after I lost my arm, I just had this sense of peace that God was in control and that's kind for a 13 year old to be like 'hey God', you're in control like I lost my arm." For how young she was, she truly put God in her heart and mind.

Waking up in the hospital her dad rushed to her side. He'd always been there for her no matter what especially because of how alike they are with their passion for surfing. Bethany sat in the hospital with a lot of questions coming her way. She decided to keep her dreams alive by getting back on the board. The passion and love she had for surfing was more than an arm, or a shark. She knew she had more to her than just that. "Whatever your situation might be, set your mind to whatever you want to do and put a good attitude in it and I believe that you can succeed," said Bethany after her attack. After all the training and adjusting she had to do with one arm, she came back to compete professionally 4 years later.

You will always find a big smile on Bethanys face. (http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Bethany+Hamilton/Soul (Bauer Griffin))

After all Bethany has been through, she truly is a hero. The strength she must have had at 13 years old, to put all her hopes in God is unbelievable. Then to be able to get back on the board and compete is a miracle. She's set so many goals for young children around the world. She has taught everyone to put all you've got to what you love. Bethany Hamilton is a hero for showing the world that she doesn't quit when things go wrong.