Article November 26, 2001 Issue

Attacked by a shark protected by love

with contributions from Laurie Causey

It May Seem Strange to call a shark attack a spiritually inspiring tale. But to listen to Laurie Causey tell about her own shark attack in the Florida Keys is to be relieved of horror and to glimpse the spiritual light that gave her the peace of mind—and even a sense of humor—to help survive the experience, and heal physically and emotionally.

"The story makes me happy," she says of that sun-bleached day in 1983 when she found the presence of mind not to fight off the four-foot nurse shark that had bitten into her leg, but to wisely and courageously hug the shark close and prevent it from tearing off her flesh. Indeed, she punctuates her gratitude for spiritual protection and healing—through prayer—with fear-defusing laughter and jokes.

Laurie and her husband, Billy Causey, are marine biologists whose careers, and recreation have centered on the aquatic wilderness just off the dock of their Big Pine Key home. So it was totally natural for them that day in 1983 to take their seven-year-old son—David—and their houseguests—Holly and Richard Keeble—snorkeling off their 22-foot Aqua Sport.

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