Bethany 'bombarded' by well-wishers

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Bethany Hamilton was eating, walking and chatting just four days and two surgeries after a shark took off her left arm.

The shark attack on Kaua'i's Bethany Hamilton has generated a flood of messages from well-wishers worldwide. Photo courtesy Hamilton family

Bethany, 13, hasn't had a hearty appetite since surgery Monday at Wilcox Memorial Hospital to close the wound, but she has been enjoying fruit.

"All she wanted this morning was a smoothie, which the hospital made up for her. She also canceled her regular lunch but requested papaya, which she enjoyed every bit of," said her mother, Cheri Hamilton. The smoothie was pineapple-coconut.

Bethany's run-in with a 14-foot shark has triggered a global avalanche of concern and curiosity that has left her whole clan stunned, and, in the words of friends, fragile.

"There's been an onslaught of friends, well-wishers, church members," said longtime family friend Steve Cranston, a sales representative for Rip Curl, one of Bethany's surfing sponsors. "I don't think anybody has more friends than they do. They've been bombarded."

A tiger shark bit off Bethany's arm Friday morning as she surfed with friends at the Tunnels break in Ha'ena. Her doctor said her life was saved by the quick action of her best friend Alana Blanchard's father, Holt Blanchard, who controlled the bleeding by wrapping a surfboard leash around the stub of her arm.

Bethany is a strong girl, as even her doctor attests, and has always been determined. Cranston recalls a rough kayak trip down the Na Pali Coast about six years ago.

"She couldn't have been more than 7 or 8, and the kayak was rocking," he said. "But she was absolutely fearless."

Her family is wedded to the water. Her parents were surfers before the kids were born, and the whole family continues to be an outdoorsy, activity-based clan.

But nothing could have prepared them for the frenzy that surrounded the shark attack. In addition to the dozens upon dozens of Kaua'i people who showed up at the hospital, there is the national and international media, with persistent demands for interviews, information and images. They call family members on the phone, they call friends, and they call often.

"I finally stopped answering any call that wasn't from the 808 area code," said Charlie Cowden of Hanalei Surf Co. Bethany is a member of the surf team sponsored by the company.

The Hamiltons' two sons, Tim, 17, and Noah, 21, were "ambushed" into appearing on national TV news programs, Cranston said.

"All of this media attention is overwhelming and confusing," the family said in a written statement yesterday.

Less intrusive, but amazing in its volume is the tsunami of messages from regular folks around the world who have tried to express their concern and affection.

When Bethany's brothers and friends put up a Web site for her Monday morning, it received about 8,000 messages in the first 24 hours, and more than 12,000 yesterday. Cranston said Bethany had received between 2,000 and 3,000 e-mail messages at last count.

"Just want to let you know that I admire your courage," said Lisa from Norway, who read about Bethany in her local newspaper. There are messages from all over the Mainland and Canada, from Britain, the Maldive Islands and other distant points.

People representing different interests seem to be attracted to Bethany's story.

One is the Christian community. The Hamilton family is active in its church, and one of Bethany's first messages to the public after her hospitalization included a Bible reference.

"Now you are the little sister all over the world. Your ministry has already begun," wrote Jeanice Coffel of www.globalgod.net, in an e-mail on the Web site.

Another point of contact, of course, is surfing.

"I remember the fearlessness you displayed when you surfed at 11 years old with the old regular longboard crew at Waverly Blvd in Ocean City; with that attitude and your strong faith, you can accomplish anything," said a New Jersey resident.

Young women find special messages in Bethany's trials.

"You're an awesome inspiration to us all," said a message whose postscript read: "Surfer Chic's Rule!!"

Bethany is getting significant support from other victims of amputations or near-amputations. A Florida woman who lost the use of her right arm in a shark attack last year wrote to offer help.

A Minnesota professional photographer who lost an arm in a motorcycle accident 32 years ago wrote to offer photography lessons after reading that Bethany hopes to become a professional photographer and was worried that the loss of an arm would hamper her.

"I thought I might be able to help," he wrote.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 245-3074.