Bethany enjoying quiet time
By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Bethany Hamilton, the 13-year-old who lost her arm to a shark and who hopes to become a professional photographer, took some photos of a pair of Hawaiian monk seals on the beach near where she and her family are staying.
How to donate or leave a message • Contact Bethany Hamilton by e-mail at bethanyhamilton@mac.com. Send cards, messages or donations to Bethany Hamilton, in care of Hanalei Surf Co., P.O. Box 790, Hanalei, HI 96714. Her family said Bethany has started reading and responding to some of the thousands of messages received to date. • Monetary donations payable to "Friends of Bethany Hamilton" may be dropped off at any branch of First Hawaiian Bank, or mailed to the bank's Lihu'e branch at 4423 Rice St., Lihu'e, HI, 96766. • A Web site at www.bethanyhamilton.com contains photos, updates on her condition and places to leave comments. • A fund-raising event is scheduled Saturday at the Marriott Kauai resort in Nawiliwili, with food, entertainment and a silent auction to raise money for Bethany's rehabilitation expenses. To donate silent auction items, contact Patrice Pendarvis at Patrice@patricependarvis.com.
"Bethany quickly borrowed her brother Noah's camera and took some live action shots while the curious seal checked her out," the Hamilton family said in a written statement.
Hamilton and her family are staying in a friend's beachside home while she recovers from the Oct. 31 attack by what is believed to be a 14-foot tiger shark. The shark bit off the girl's left arm as she paddled her surfboard at the Tunnels reef surfing spot, off the Ha'ena Beach Park.
Bethany spent a week in Wilcox Hospital and then moved with her family to the vacation rental, the location of which is being kept secret to protect her privacy.
"Since leaving the hospital, the family has acquired a lot of much needed therapeutic quiet time at a secluded vacation rental home on the north shore of Kaua'i. A friend provided the accommodations and more friends have continued to drop off home-cooked meals," the Hamilton family wrote.
The global attention on the young champion surfer stunned her family, which was overwhelmed with phone calls and visits. Friends stepped up to manage well-wishers and the media, and have insulated the clan from the attention.
Bethany is expected to make her first national media appearances next week. The family statement said the quiet time has allowed Bethany to catch up with her dog, Ginger. She has also been opening gift packages, reading her mail and answering some of it, and doing watercolor painting.
Close friends have been allowed to visit, and the family said she has spent a lot of time with her best friend, Alana Blanchard, who was surfing with her when the shark attacked. Alana's father, Holt Blanchard, put a tourniquet on Bethany's arm and paddled her to shore after the attack.
World surfing champion Andy Irons has been among the visitors. Like Bethany, Irons got his surfing start on Kaua'i's north shore.
The family statement said Bethany is upbeat and healing.
"She is acting just like a normal teenager, but to me she is bigger than life," said brother Noah, 21.
"I look at everything that's happened as part of God's plan for my life, and I look forward to new challenges," the statement quoted Bethany as saying.
Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 245-3074.
