Surfer Bethany Hamilton Issues Urgent Call to Pray
Movieguide® Contributor
Pro surfer Bethany Hamilton’s 3-year-old Nephew, Andrew, drowned on Oct. 12 and was immediately hospitalized.
“HELP,” she wrote on Instagram Oct 12. “My precious nephew was medivaced to kapiolani in Oahu this morning after drowning last night. He still has a heartbeat and has fight in him.”
“We are wrecked. But I know how proper medical support can make or break someone’s chance of survival and in this case we’re asking for help from anyone who has information of what we can do to give my nephew the best chance,” she said.
Dr. Paul Harch, a renowned expert in drowning injuries, found out about Andrew after his daughter alerted him.
“We are hopeful,” Bethany commented in her Oct. 12 post. “Thank you for your prayers and support. We are in contact with many helpful individuals. We trust that God has Andrew in his hands.”
On Oct. 13, she gave an update:
“I was not planning on posting about Andrew’s incident. I didn’t want to go to the public in the first place, but I knew that it could potentially help him by getting more support and receiving more knowledge/help around what he’s going through.”
“It certainly has been a blessing. Thank you. I don’t plan on posting a lot. And will be off this space for the most part. Thank you for the love, prayers, knowledge and support.”
“Please pray for Andrew and all his loved ones. Pray that we can do our best through this hard time.”
Hamilton’s brother Noah shared more information on the incident: “Join us in prayer for my brother’s 5th youngest child Andrew as he was life flighted to Oahu in the middle of the night,” he wrote. “He’s 3.5 going on 5. He’s a strong resilient kid and an amazing swimmer. He was found not breathing in shallow water of bath tub. His vitals were enough to get him to oahu.”
On Oct. 14, Hamilton shared how followers can support Andrew and his family through Supportnow. The family has a goal of raising $100,000.
Andrew’s Supportnow page explains:
Andrew, who’s almost 4 years old, had a near drowning. As you can imagine this is any family’s worst nightmare; yet we believe in an almighty God. Please pray for kidney function and brain activity to fully restore.
On Friday, Oct 11, Andrew came down with a fever and threw up. He was in the bathtub soaking in epsom salt; just 15 feet from the kitchen and living room. He was found unconscious–which is baffling as he’s the strongest child of his 5 siblings at that age and an amazing swimmer, even in the open ocean. Chest compression began, he had a slight heartbeat. He spent a few hours at Wilcox hospital before medical evacuation to Oahu.
Currently the whole family is on Oahu at Kapi’olani children’s hospital where Andrew is on life support in the PICU Unit receiving emergency care. The doctors have been amazing, and have made every change to his health care that we’ve asked for based on drowning research.
We are reaching out to families that have been there before us and we have incredible support from this team. One of the biggest reports we have heard about is HBOT (Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy) and protocols from Dr. Paul Harch. We want to take Andrew to see Dr. Harch in New Orleans as soon as possible. But in the meantime, Dr. Harch has spoken to Andrew’s doctor here at Kapi’olani. We are also hearing about many other alternative and traditional treatments, all of which will be big endeavors.
Get to know the Hamiltons – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrHLru4FqUc
If you feel led to support, through prayer, financials, lending a hand, or meals, please do so.
We will post updates here.
Please spread the word and let us know if you know of any treatments, therapies, or tips that could help support his recovery. Any timely information can be sent to Andrew’s uncle, Noah Hamilton’s cell (808) 652-7667.
Thank you for sharing,
Hamilton Family
Whether you’re willing to pray fervently, give money, send meals, or lend a hand, your support makes a real difference.
Movieguide® recently shared some of Bethany’s advice, which is fitting for a time like this:
Whoever needs to hear this… God has the world in the palm of his hand. Sooo all of our worry and concern, that we may burden, is a call and reminder to look to him, to pray, to hope in Jesus above and beyond the chaos!!!” she wrote in an Instagram post. “There will always be trouble… There will be hardship… but God is good ALL OF THE TIME! And God has OVERCOME!!!”
Hamilton then shared John 16:33 — “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
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