Beth's Children Reunited For First Time Since Her Passing
- Garry and Cecily Chapman are together for the first time since their mother’s passing from lung cancer.
- Beth Chapman passed away last June after battling stage four lung cancer. Her husband Duane “Dog” Chapman and both of her children have spoken publicly about their healing journey.
- Family is crucial at every stage of the cancer battle, and there are resources to help if you’re coping with the loss of a loved one.
“Some days I'm up. Some days I'm down. Some days I turn and look for you with thoughts I'd like to share. Some days I wonder what you would think or say. Some days I struggle to go on just wishing you were here. Most days I spend in gratitude that you were ever here. Miss you momma, happy birthday.”
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Beth’s Stage Four Lung Cancer
Beth was best known for her work alongside her husband on the reality TV show, Dog the Bounty Hunter. She was 51 years-old when she passed away in June 2019 after battling lung cancer. Her fight was documented on their reality TV show.
Following her diagnosis, the Chapmans dove into researching cancer treatments, to figure out what would give Beth the best chance of survival. The couple sought out multiple doctors and visited lead experts in the field of cancer care. Her doctors recommended chemotherapy, but noted that they were unsure of how the cancer would respond to the drugs used. Following their recommendation, Beth began chemotherapy.
She experienced painful side effects as a result of the treatment, which led her to stop pursuing chemotherapy. The treatment path was ultimately ineffective for Beth. In an earlier interview with SurvivorNet, Chapman expressed his anger following the death of his wife. Anger is part of the grieving process for many. Chapman said, "We put people in [jail] for robbin' banks and robbin' grocery stores," Dog said. "These doctors are robbin' more than that."
Family is Crucial
There’s nothing more important than family, especially during your battle with cancer. Your loved ones can be a crucial source of emotional support and companionship in helping you navigate a difficult battle with cancer. Beth had great support through her cancer journey.
For many survivors, faith helps them stay positive in the face of daunting medical challenges and inspires them to fight on.
Beverly Reeves, an ovarian cancer survivor, told SurvivorNet that her family, along with support from friends and faith groups, helped her get through treatment. She tells people going through difficult cancer battles to stay connected to faith groups and the critical support they offer.
“If you're connected to a faith community, get your faith community, and get your family,” she told SurvivorNet in a previous interview. “Let them know what's going on and let them help you.
'Faith, Family, and Friends' Helped Beverly Reeves Get Through Ovarian Cancer Treatment
Having a positive outlook and support system like Reeves benefits more than just the heart it can actually help patients live longer. Dr. Murrell told SurvivorNet in a previous interview that he's "pretty good at telling what kind of patients are going to live the longest, even with bad, bad disease. And those are patients who have gratitude in life."
SurvivorNet has interviewed hundreds of survivors who’ve shared similar stories of how family has helped them persevere through their battles with cancer.
Whether it comes from faith, family, community, or another source, strength and positivity are key to overcoming cancer. SurvivorNet‘s medical experts urge those fighting cancer to talk to their doctors and loved ones to develop a support system for their battle.
Coping with Loss
Losing a loved one to cancer can be devastating, and there's no one right way to heal. The Chapman’s have been working their loss in their own way.
Sadness Is Not Always A Bad Thing Coping After Losing A Parent To Cancer
Camila Legaspi lost her mother to breast cancer when she was in high school. Looking back, she now sees her loss as inspiration to express herself through writing.
"I learned that it's OK to be sad sometimes. It's OK to carry sadness with you … it's not always a bad thing," Legaspi told SurvivorNet. "It makes you who you are and it gives you a story to tell and it helps you teach other people to cope with their sadness."
The pain that comes from losing a parent may never fully go away, but it can be used to help others. Scandal actor Scott Foley lost his mother to ovarian cancer when he was only 15, a loss which devastated him but has given him the resilience he's needed to push on through challenging times.
"Dealing with loss at a young age, and dealing with someone who's sick all the time, that really turned me into someone who built the resilience in me that I walk with today," Foley told SurvivorNet. "I know that just by dealing with what I dealt with as a teenager…there is nothing that anybody can throw at me; bring it on, 2020."
Counseling and therapy can help those grieving a parent cope with the loss and build new attitudes that turn suffering into resilience. Losing a parent is one of the hardest things anyone can go through, so take advantage of trained mental healthcare professionals who know exactly how to help you adjust.
"Therapy Saved My Life": After Losing A Loved One, Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.