In 2003, professional surfer Bethany Hamilton survived a shark attack on the island of Kauai, Hawaii that left her with a severed left arm. After the incident, Hamilton wrote about the experience in her autobiography, “Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board.”
And in April 2011, her story was featured in the film Soul Surfer. Remarkably, despite the tragic incident, Hamilton returned to surfing just three weeks after the attack.
Today, Hamilton, 25, gave birth to her first baby with her husband, Adam Dirks, by her side.
Hamilton and her husband Adam welcomed their first child, Tobias, on June 1, weighing 7.9 pounds and 21″ long. Bethany posted the announcement on her Facebook with the meaning behind Tobias’ name: “He is named after his great grandpa Tobias meaning ‘The goodness of God.’”
Pro-life advocate Liberty Pike of Oregon right to Life congratulated Bethany and Adam.
“Bethany rose to fame after she was injured in a shark attack in Hawaii in 2003. She lost her left arm in the incident. That didn’t stop Bethany from continuing to surf. She has traveled the world sharing her testimony of faith in the face of hardship,” she said. “Bethany’s story, and that of Nick Vujicic (a man born without arms or legs), is a powerful reminder that people are greater than their disabilities, that they can live wonderful, fulfilling lives. It is a tragedy that babies, diagnosed with disabilities in the womb, are being aborted at overwhelming rates because their parents fear their lives will be ‘too hard.’”
“Congratulations, Bethany and Adam! Enjoy your little man,” she said.
