Many family members of cancer patients who’ve died seek solace in their faith and their hope that their departed loved one has left them for a better place. For Cecily Chapman, the beloved daughter of acclaimed bounty hunter Beth Chapman, wife of Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter,” who died of cancer late last month, she’s been seeing (literally) signs from the heavens and sharing them with her many fans.
View this post on Instagram
This comes a few days after Cecily posted a similarly striking sunset, this time from Hawaii, which also alluded to her mother’s presence in Heaven.
View this post on Instagram
Reacting the Colorado sunset, Cecily many social media supporters felt they sensed Beth, 51, looking down upon Cecily with motherly (and heavenly) love.
One supporter, charlotte.sullivan.79, told Cecily that beth will stay with her in thoughts and prayers, “There’s two things I noticed in this photo the black Mercedes to the left looks just like your mama’s and the beautiful bright coloring in the sky letting you know that she’s with you in our thoughts and Prayers loves and hugs [heart]”
User joiegammons took the photo as a definite sign of Beth’s presence, and that it wasn’t the only sign in the photo: “Looks just like Beth’s car on the bottom left too. Signs everywhere. RIPBETH”
User cderevensky said that the strength and power of Beth is all around: “She’s showing you she is there with you, pink flowers, a beautiful sky and a back Mercedes-Benz. Keep looking for little and sometimes big details …she’s there with you. She is too strong and powerful for her presence to fade. She loves you.”
Another supporter, hollyberriesoc, told Cecily she could relate, having lost her father this year as well, “@cecilybeezee Your Mom will make herself be known or felt that she is watching over you in many small & simple ways. My Father passed in late March and he is definitely not far from me. Hugs to you!”
And rose_jrzygirl assured Cecily that her mom’s love for her daughter is undying, even from heaven above, “CECILY !!!! The fire in the sky is her as a sign of immense love she has for you!!! No question at this is truth.”
Sarbear_sars expressed a similar sentiment, writing “beautiful photo your mum will always be with you watching over you all.”
In addition to looking up to find her mom in the sky, Cecily has been commemorating her mom with colorful bedazzled nails just like Beth’s.
Just before her mother's public memorial in Aurora Colorado, Cecily proclaimed via Instagram that "My heart is so heavy (broken heart emoji)". Her comment accompanied a photo of Beth behind the wheel of her car, showcasing her amazing, dazzling nails, a Beth Chapman signature look.
A day later, Cecily went to the celebrated Honolulu nail salon Nail’s By Danny, which Beth herself visited shortly before her demise, and showed her Instagram fans a new manicure – long nails painted pink with white tips and bedazzled in blue and green rhinestones — that looks just like Beth’s.
The caption read: "Cried the whole time but it was totally worth it iLy @nailsbydanny & @mrsdog4real."
View this post on Instagram
Cried the whole time but it was totally worth it iLy @nailsbydanny & @mrsdog4real ????
Cecily’s nail bling looked just the same as the one Beth sported on her deathbed.
When supporters saw the post, they quickly understood what a meaningful tribute it was to Beth and her love of beautiful nails. "Beautiful, just like your mom's! It's such a tribute to her that you did this!"
"Gorgeous! Your mom is smiling [nail polish emoji]"
"Those are gorgeous!!! Your hands look just like Mama!!! What a sweet tribute, your Mom would be so proud and is no doubt smiling down from heaven @cecilybeezee"
Others commented on the resemblance to her mom's nails, how much her mom adores Cecily. "She loves you so so so much. What pretty nails to match two beautiful women. Sending so much love and peace your way, sweet girl! "
And one even said they thought that her hands were her moms, the resemblance was so striking. "I thought your hands were your moms hands. Wow! Brought tears to my eyes. Exactly alike. Beautiful! God Bless You!"
Supporters commented with words of love and support, knowing how much Beth's nails meant to Beth and to those around her. "I'm so so sorry. I can't even imagine what this is like for you. Your mother was an incredible woman on so many levels…. she left much of herself in all of you. â™¥ï¸ I pray for your heart to heal from this pain when it "I'm so sorry. She was an amazing woman that I looked up to and I was hoping someday I'll be able to be meet her but now I'll never get the chance and that breaks my heart."
One supporter even likened the posting to their memories of their father's hands after he passed. "You know, I always think of my fathers hands. She had subh beautiful hands. You take care of your old dad. That's the greatest tribute to your mom. That, and seeing her babies go on to live long happy and healthy lives. God bless angel."
Cecily is Beth's second child with her first husband Keith Barmore, now 65, to whom Beth was briefly married before divorcing him and marrying Dog. Keith was a friend of Dog's. Beth had a son, Dominic, by a man other than Keith, prior to Cecily, when Beth was 17. Dominic, Cecily's half brother, was taken away by state child welfare authorities, and only reunited with Beth when Dog tracked him down as an adult. Dog adopted Cecily. She also has two younger half siblings, Bonnie and Garry Dee, who are Beth's children by Dog.
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}."
Beth died after a long struggle with 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.
Information about dealing with fear during cancer
For a lot of people, connecting to someone else with cancer can help with some of the difficult emotions that that can come with the diagnosis. For example, anxiety and fear are totally normal reactions to the news of cancer, and acknowledging these emotions can be therapeutic and important to the healing process.
"I think the most important advice I would give to someone who has just received a cancer diagnosis is to find people whom they find as a source of support. To allow themselves to go through all of the different emotional reactions to that news," said Dr. Susan Parons, Director of the Center for Health Solutions/Center on Child and Family Outcomes at Tufts Medical Center, in a prior interview with SurvivorNet. Dr. Parsons did not comment on this case specifically.
"The anger, the frustration, the fear. The disappointment. Whatever those emotions are, figure out what's important to you and find those people that can help you realize that."
Dr. Susan Parons, Director of the Center for Health Solutions/Center on Child and Family Outcomes at Tufts Medical Center on dealing with fear and anxiety after a cancer diagnosis.
In times of frustration, it can be useful to a little bit of direction on specific ways to deal with it. A few of the most common ways to deal with fear and anxiety after a cancer diagnosis, that have helped people in the SurvivorNet community in the past, include:
1. Let your family and close friends know and let them help. So many cancer survivors tell us they want and need support but are often too preoccupied to make specific requests. Urge those close to you to jump in with whatever practical help they can offer.
2. Keep a journal. It can be extremely cathartic to let those feelings loose on paper. Grab a pen and a nice journal and chronical your different thoughts throughout the day.
3. Join a cancer support group. There are groups in nearly every community offering opportunities to connect with others going through a similar journey. You'll learn incredibly helpful insight from others who can tell you about what to expect and how to stay strong on tough days.
4. Consider seeing a therapist. Ask your doctor to refer you to a therapist so you can discuss your fears and concerns in a safe space. Often, vocalizing your thoughts and feelings rather than internalizing them can provide relief.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
