Bethany Hamilton, Who Lost Her Hand in Shark Attack, Revealed Weeks Before Horrifying Incident She Prayed for a “Purpose”

Bethany Hamilton has definitely registered her name on the list of most incredible comebacks in sporting history. The competitive surfer from Hawaii rose to popularity after surviving a shark attack in 2003. She lost her left arm in the tragic incident. But the champion surfer believes that dark times come in the life of those who are supposed to enlighten and inspire the world. Recently, Bethany Hamilton tweeted a picture of her younger self with an intensely personal message, detailing how her prayer to God two weeks before her accident changed her life forever.

She also opened up on her journey to overcome the uphill challenges in her life through faith and determination.

Bethany feels her accident gave her a purpose

Bethany Hamilton’s post described her ambitious nature and fighting spirit. She revealed that she never wanted an aimless life. Instead, she believed that God has sent everyone on the planet with a purpose and, one day, she would find the purpose of her existence. 

Bethany described how just a few days before the tragedy, she wanted the Almighty’s blessings to find a purpose in life. “Two weeks before I lost my arm, I remember praying with my mom for my life to have a purpose.” she wrote.

Few could imagine the amplitude of pain Bethany went through during her suffering. The accident may have taken her limb but it could not hamper her dedication and temperament. 

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Bethany Hamilton believes that God is making her a better human being through all the hardships. She further added, “Since then, God brought me on a journey of learning to push through some of the hardest challenges and accomplish some crazy fun things!”  The 32-year-old also pointed out that her mother made it easier for her to pass that dark phase of her life. 

How Bethany Hamilton overcame her challenges!

The shark attack changed Bethany’s life overnight. Hence, she received a lot of sympathy and pity from people. However, the Soul Surfer writer has never let her disability become the reason for her poor performance. In fact, Bethany has continued to compete as a surfer.

In 2022, the surfing legend was the replacement of Stephanie Gilmore in WSL’s Billabong Pro Pipeline competition. Stephanie had to leave the tournament after testing positive for COVID-19, but Bethany entered as a wildcard.

Because the shark-attack took her limb just below the shoulder, Hamilton couldn’t use weight-bearing devices. So, she learned to surf with only one arm. Despite all odds, she returned to competitive surfing just months after the devastating tragedy.

After that, has proved her worth in various competitions across the globe. The 32-year-old champion surfer has proven that nothing can stop you from achieving your goals if you are passionate and true to your purpose. 

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