Imagine This: When you’re thirteen years old, you’re attacked by a 214-foot tiger shark while surfing off Kauai’s North Shore. After losing more than 60% of your blood, you’re left with a severed left arm. You live to surf, but does this mean the end of your surfing?

 Who: You’re Bethany Hamilton, a 13-year-old surfer

What: A shark attack

Where: Kauai, Hawaii

When: October 31 2003

This is the inspiring story of faith, determination, and hope.

You’re born into a family of surfers in 1990 on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, and you begin surfing before you can walk. You win your first surfing competition at age four, and at age seven, you place first in the 7-9 age division in both the short and long board events at the Quicksilver surfing contest.

You continue to win surfing competitions and your dream is to become a professional surfer. You’re the daughter of surfing parents, you live in a surfers’ paradise, and it looks like you’re well on your way to attaining your dream!

On Halloween morning of 2003, you’re surfing the waves of Makua Beach near your home with your best friend, Alana, and her dad and brother. Suddenly a tiger shark rises out of the water and tears into your board. About three seconds later, the shark is gone, and you’re left with a severed left arm.

You’re rushed to the hospital where doctors tell your family that without your athletic conditioning, you probably would have died. You lose your left arm just below the shoulder, but a month later you’re back on your board

You place fifth in the National Surfing Championships, you win an ESPN award for Best Comeback Athlete, and you secure a spot on the U.S. Surfing Team!

In 2007 you realize your dream and turn pro and in 2011 your book Soul Surfer is made into a major picture with the same name.

Today Bethany continues to inspire people with her message and has launched her own foundation Friends of Bethany which supports shark attack survivors and traumatic amputees.

Thank you, Bethany, for being an inspiration for all of us!

Postscript: To follow Bethany, visit her website http://bethanyhamilton.com/

For More about Bethany:

 Something to Think about: Why do you think Bethany returned to surfing after the trauma of the shark attack and in spite of her physical limitations?

“The time is always right to do what is right.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Willoughby and I hope you enjoyed this week’s true story and will be back next week for another story to inspire you to DARE TO DREAM BIG!

 Reminder: To be eligible for the weekly drawing for an autographed copy of one of my books (your choice of book), please leave a comment.

(Two Restrictions)

1) There must be a minimum of 10 visitor comments

2) Only U.S. residents please to save on mailing costs.

THIS WEEK’S WINNER IS SHARLA SHULTS.

CONGRATULATIONS, SHARLA!