I have found this amazing story on the website xx.
The title is: “How blind surfer David Rabelo is living his dream”.
The story was published on February 13th, 2015 but unfortunately it is not clear who wrote the story.
He has never seen a wave, but their sound is as familiar to Derek as his heartbeat.
His dream: He wants to become a professional surfer, like his father and his two uncles!
And this young Brazilian succeeds something unbelievable: he conquers the most dangerous waves in the world - although he can not see anything!
On land Derek needs a blindsman`s stick.
During surfing his eyes are replaced by his hearing.
At the age of 17, his father gives him a surfboard, only his mother asks him: "Are you crazy, Derek?"
And he answers her: "Stay cool, mom."
From now on, he trains his sense of balance, even learns skateboarding and bicycling.
When his parents see how clever he arranges this and that he can ride waves by feeling and hearing, they are all incredibly proud of him!
He has private lessons and always has a companion staying with him who helps him with the right timing in the water.
The only time he is afraid, is, when he falls into the water and the waves push him underneath the water - because then he is alone.
But Derek is very believing and therefore he always trusts in God's help.
Because he makes great progress on the surfboard, his family saves money to enable him to fly to the surfing paradise of Hawaii.
Not only the stars of the surfing scene there are amazed of the blind wonder child.
Soon a video on the internet causes a sensation showing him while he rides the "Pipeline" - one of the most dangerous waves in the world.
Surfers know exactly how incredible Derek's performance is and they admire him for this!
Even professional surfers take on the challenge and try to surf blindfolded with Derek.
When Derek Rabelo returns to Brazil, he is star.
The now 23-year-old gets lucrative advertising contracts, for which he is very grateful.
But something else is more important to him: "The fact that I can inspire people and encourage them to always believe in themselves, never to give up, to live their dreams and to believe in God.
lg Edel
