"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way," as one famous story began. And even happy families can face unique struggles when cancer comes knocking. The disease can cause strains; and just as common, typical family pains can make a cancer battle even more onerous.
That’s why fans and supporters of the television personality Beth Chapman, who’s fighting advanced lung and throat cancer, are worried about an increasingly public argument she’s having with one of her stepdaughters. We told you about the simmering dispute on Thursday, and about how these kinds of contretemps can affect a cancer journey. The story has continued.
Read MoreI'm very disappointed today. knowing that not only did my daughter @BabyLyssaC not acknowledge me on Mother's Day yet texted some of my friends wishing them a HMD
She decides to exclude her dad and I from ABBIES graduation
On Friday ????I would have moved a mountain to be there ????Beth Chapman (@MrsdogC) May 23, 2019
Beth also told her fans that, much to her distress, Lyssa had blocked her and Dog on social media.
Earlier today, Lyssa responded that she did in fact text Beth — and shared a screenshot with a message to her step-mother that read “Happy mother’s day I love U grandma.” Lyssa also included a caption with the image: “I have been so busy being a mom; celebrating, supporting and loving my daughter on the eve of her graduation, I haven’t had time to respond to you. @MrsdogC. You know you’re not blocked. I spoke to dad yesterday.”
And in an icy coda her rebuttal, Lyssa added that “If your intent was to hurt me or Abbie with lies….Don't worry. You didn't. I am so excited, happy and proud there is nothing you can do to dull my or Abbie's shine. As we both know you never intended to be home in Hawaii this week and I'm sorry you feel some type of way. You want to talk, you got my number.”
However, Beth insists that the message Lyssa sent was actually from her other grandchild, not Lyssa. She responded promptly to Lyssa on Friday morning that “Maddie texted grandma you did nothing as usual we didn't know when Abbie's grad was, yes we would have been there! your not off the hook Lyssa you Invite your parents regardless I bet Leigh's parents we're invited. we could have been home in time you chose not to even tell us.”
(Maddie is Lyssa’s other daughter, by a different man than Abbie’s. Leigh is presumably Leiana Everson, Lyssa’s current romantic partner)
Maddie texted grandma you did nothing as usual we didn't know when Abbie's grad was, yes we would have been there! your not off the hook Lyssa you Invite your parents regardless I bet Leigh's parents we're invited. we could have been home in time you chose not to even tell us https://t.co/gzhMW2km1p
Beth Chapman (@MrsdogC) May 24, 2019
Like always, Beth’s fans were quick to support her, and remind her that they love her, they’re praying for her, and they hope this won’t affect her ability to recover from Stage 4 cancer. “[I’m] so sorry to hear this Beth. My prayers r with u much love from Cali. Keep ur head up God has ur back,” wrote one user named Tiffany Vargas.
“Beth I am so heartbroken for you! From what I have seen over the years of watching your show, you would do anything for your children. Life is too short. I pray Lisa will come around. Happy belated Mother’s Day Beth,” wrote another named Linda B.
Lyssa, known as Baby Lyssa, is Beth's stepdaughter and the ninth of Duane's 12 children (Lyssa's mother is Duane's third wife, Lyssa Rae Brittain). The granddaughter in question is Lyssa's first daughter Abbie, who was born when Lyssa was only 15. The 24-year-old father was arrested for statutory rape. Lyssa would later go on to marry and divorce a different man. She is now engaged to a woman with whom she operates a tanning salon in Hawaii.
When it comes to Beth, she has been very open about her cancer battle this time around — and the ups and downs of facing cancer in the public eye. She was diagnosed with cancer for a second time in late 2018. And even though she’s been open about the journey she is on over the past few months, it’s unclear what kind of treatment she is currently undergoing. On Mother’s Day, in Beth’s first public speaking appearance since she was diagnosed again, Beth told congregants at the Source Church in Bradenton, Florida, that she is not undergoing chemotherapy and that she's really putting her faith in God as she battles the disease. "This is the ultimate test of faith," Beth said during the event. "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."
For a long time, chemotherapy was considered the standard of care for people with stage 4 lung cancer — but times have changed over the past decade or so. Precision medicine, or matching treatment to the biology and characteristics of a specific tumor, has made major headway when it comes to treating advanced lung cancer. Targeted therapy seeks out very specific cancer cells and leaves the healthy cells alone. Chemotherapy tends to cause a lot of collateral damage because it kills all fast-growing cells — both healthy and cancerous.
Still, it’s unclear if Beth is using targeted therapy or some other form of cancer treatment. We do know that she’s still completely committed to continuing her life’s work — bounty hunting. Dog and Beth have been filming their new reality show “Dog’s Most Wanted,” which will air on WGN America — though an official release date has not been announced yet.
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