Surfer recovering
after surgeryThe shark attack victim
might be able to go
home this week
LIHUE >> Bethany Hamilton, the 13-year-old Princeville surfer who lost her left arm in a shark attack Friday, underwent a second surgery yesterday at Wilcox Memorial Hospital and was listed in stable condition last night.
The surgery was successful, and she may be able to return home this week, according to hospital spokeswoman Lani Yukimura.
Dr. David Rovinsky performed the procedure to check for infection, clean the wound and provide the arm a cosmetic closure that will function with a prothesis. Bethany underwent an initial surgery on Friday.
Bethany has about a 4-inch section of upper arm bone remaining. Losing an upper extremity is more complicated than losing a lower one, or an arm below the elbow, Rovinsky told the New York Times before the surgery. It is too early to tell what the options are, although that will become clearer in the coming months, he said.
"It will be an ongoing process," he said. "She'll figure out for herself what she can do."
Rovinsky said that surfboards and prosthetic devices could be modified for Bethany and that "she'll be able to do 95 percent of what she wants to do."
"She's an extremely strong woman," he added. "Knowing Bethany, it's not going to slow her down too much."
Bethany's family has put up a "Bethany Hamilton Support Website" that includes updates, a photo gallery and promotional videos of her surfing and skateboarding at www.bethanyhamilton.com.
There also is a bank account listed for people who want to make donations for her rehabilitation and prosthetic care and an e-mail link for those who want to send Bethany a message. Her family promised all messages would be printed out and taken to her.
Donations, made to "Friends of Bethany Hamilton," can be made at any branch of First Hawaiian Bank or mailed to the bank's Lihue branch at 4423 Rice Street, Lihue, HI 96766.
The family is planning a fund-raiser on Nov. 15. People wishing to contribute items for a silent auction can contact Patricia Pendarvis by e-mail at Patrice@patricependarvis.com.
Before Friday's attack, Bethany was considered one of the best young female surfers in the country. She had won numerous amateur contests, had major sponsors and was considered a shoo-in to go professional.
Family members, who issue daily statements through the hospital, has said Bethany is determined to surf again. She was out of bed and walking on Sunday, they said.
The attack took place around 7:30 a.m. about a quarter-mile offshore of Kauai's Makua Beach. The beach also is known as Tunnels because of the large reef offshore with many lava tubes.
Shark experts estimated the shark was a tiger about 14 feet long. The half-moon-shape bite mark on Bethany's surfboard is 17 inches across.
