Sometimes when a person reaches the end of their cancer journey, their family reaches for the spiritual as a means of both solace and celebration of their life. That seems to be what Beth Chapman’s supporters have done.
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Cecily’s supporters quickly began to comment their faith that the photo was sign of Beth’s presence, bringing her favorite colors and persistent spirit into her family’s lives once again.
“Thats so pretty you mom is looking down at all her family watchibg [sic] over you all.”
“There's auntie Beth putting her touch of pink in the clouds.”
“Stunning. Mom is with you.”
“Beautiful! That’s a sign from your beautiful momma watching over you.”
“That’s beautiful!! Your momma is lighting up the sky for you.”
One supporter was even inspired to copy a passage about angels. “‘Clouds are heavenly bodies of moisture, hovering above us like protective angels as they float around our world. Angels love to use these natural wonders to show us signs because they can be shaped in any fashion and are spectacular to look at. Clouds are one of the most common ways that we receive "I love you" messages from Heaven. The angels’ clouds are physical signs that they're with us around the clock.'”
And another shared a story about losing her own her.”My mother died a month ago from cancer I’m a nurse and was lucky to have her at home and take care of her she died in my arms I feel your pain I know how hard it is to lose your mama. God love you baby holding you ever so tightly I feel my mother’s hugs everyday.”
The tight-knit Chapman clan was often featured on the shows, and therefore Beth’s fans grew familiar with her children: Cecily, 26 (not by Dog), and Bonnie, 20, and Garry Dee, 19, (her children by Dog). Beth had another son, Dominic, when she was 17 but he was taken in by Colorado child welfare authorities and not featured on the show.
Therefore as the children grieve, so their many thousands of fans grieve with them — and delight in never-before-seen photos of Beth that the children are sharing, mostly on Instagram.
Cecily shared a touching photo of her and Beth sitting together in a car. She accompanied the picture, shot through the car window, with the simple comment that “Everyday is hard!” and finished it off with a broken heart emoji.
Beth’s fans were quick to reach out to Cecily with words of love, support and encouragement.
“Our thoughts are with u guys all the way over here from Australia she was and still is a beautiful women u are a image of her RIP Beth u will be missed,” wrote meganarnold3756.
“It will always be hard and hurt but it will ease with time,” said izczech.
eganarnold3756
“She’s always with you♡. Rest easy Mrs. Chapman,” added buckdanielle98
lindarella35 said: “I feel you loss my at 56 two years just lost my dad 6 weeks ago.”
“One day at a time is so hard xoxo,” wrote jewels1005.
sherrieboquetsharpe wrote that “Every day will be hard honey but hang in there! Thinking of you all and sending love â¤ï¸”
amycollinsworth2001 said “I lost my dad to cancer 10 years ago on July 12th. It doesn't get easier, but you'll find your own way of dealing with it. The only things that keep me going are 1. I'll see him in Heaven one day & 2. He won his fight with cancer because he's free of it, the pain & he's flying high with the Angels. You & your family are in my thoughts & prayers tonight.”
Earlier, on Thursday night, Cecily posted a photo of plumeria (a flower identified with Hawaii, the Chapman family stomping ground) and wrote of Beth that “I feel her everywhere.” Her posting was followed by a resounding chorus of support from Beth’s fans.
Touchingly, Beth chose Cecily for her final Instagram post before her tragic passing. To mark Cecily's 26th birthday, Beth shared a beautiful portrait of her eldest daughter and wrote: "My sunshine ! Turns 26 today."
Beth went on to remark that Cecily is "A true beauty with street smarts she's reliable dependable trustworthy and true a bit devious but that comes from her up bringing she's clever and sassy.. but you'll find no one more loyal to family then she [is]! Through thick and through thin all out or all in we have muddled through this together … Celebrating Her Birthday today I'm reminded what great sacrifices she makes for family every day … Your are loved beyond words Cecily savannah you stay sweet. {or you'll answer to yo mama}."
As for Beth, she'll be remembered in a second memorial service in Colorado later this month. Dog posted on Twitter two days ago a photo of Beth sprouting angel wings while wrapping her arms around Duane, who is throwing flower petals into the wind. The meme reads "Goodbye (for now)" at the top and "In loving memory of Beth Chapman," at the bottom. The posting also included details for Beth's Colorado memorial, "July 13, 2019 Heritage Christian Center, 14401 E. Exposition Avenue, Aurora, Colorado 80012 Doors open at 1:00 Service starts at 2:00."
Beth died after a long struggle with Stage 2 throat cancer. When she learned her cancer had returned in late 2018, she decided to forego chemotherapy and place her faith in the Lord. "Chemotherapy is not my bag," she told assembled congregants at the Source Church in Bradenton, Florida on Mothers Day.
Supporters were quick to become spiritual when responding to Duane as well, envisioning Beth living on beyond this world. “Duane, why are you saying Goodbye to Beth? She maybe gone in body, but her strong spirit will never be gone. She is with each of you and she will be with you until you leave this world to join her in heaven. Love that strong never dies or leaves!”
“RiP #MrsDog may she rest in heavenly peace as she is watching us and reminding us to behave and keep staying positive and strong as she was. Much love to The Chapman Family,” one supporter commented.
“R.I.P Beth, she’ll be watching over you from above,” said another.
And some gave a more christian interpretation of the post. “@DogBountyHunter my prayers are with you and your beautiful family. Your lovely wife @MrsdogC impacted so many lives by sharing the love the grace of Christ as you do,” wrote one person who has been inspired by the family.
“I know she is in heaven but I wish I could be there to say goodbye! I miss her and it's hard to believe I will never hear from her again. I'm glad she won't be hurting anymore and is with God keeping things running smoothly! God Bless you Dog and your family and friends,” said another.
Earlier this year, Beth gave a heartfelt Mother's Day speech at the Source Church in Bradenton, Florida, where she explained that during this bout with cancer she would not be undergoing chemotherapy she would instead let her faith guide her through the journey.
"This is the ultimate test of faith," she said in the speech. "It is the evidence of things hoped for, and it is the substance of things not known. And although chemotherapy is not my bag, people, sorry, that's not for me. So for me, this is the ultimate test of faith."
Choosing to forgo conventional treatment is an extremely difficult and personal decision. We don't know what, if any, alternative treatments Beth may have been pursuing for her cancer. Typically, the treatment for this advanced disease can involve extensive chemotherapy or radiation, or targeted therapy if the patient has a certain genetic mutation.
Information about faith and cancer
A lot of people in the SurvivorNet community have talked to us about the role of faith during their cancer journeys. Breast cancer survivor Sharonda Vincent told SurvivorNet that she leaned on faith to help her through. "I knew that if I just put my faith and trust in God, that I would be okay," said Vincent about her cancer journey.
Sharonda discovered a lump in her left breast the day before her thirtieth birthday, with just over a month to go until her wedding. Her doctor initially dismissed her concerns, but follow-up tests confirmed that it was stage 2B breast cancer. "It was hard for me. I felt as if I was being punished," she says.
Breast Cancer survivor Sharonda Vincent on the role of faith in her cancer journey
But after chemotherapy, radiation, and then hormone replacement, Sharonda is doing well. She’s currently a social service advocate at the Public Defender’s Office in Philadelphia.
Sharonda’s message: Don’t give up hope. Educate yourself and live every day to the fullest. "Breast cancer is no longer the end of the world," she says.
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