“Dog” the bounty hunter is taking the high road as he rebuts an internet death hoax that tricked many fans into believing that his wife Beth Chapman, 51, had died from stage four lung cancer.
Cruel anonymous trolls posted a fake news video over the weekend that purported to show Beth on her deathbed as Dog grieved by her side. The posting alarmed Beth’s many fans who, fooled by the falsehoods, sent words of grief and sympathy to Dog and the larger Chapman family.
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Apparently, Dog did not use a fact checker since Churchill experts say the quote itself is fake news — that Churchill never said it. The quote, which has also been incorrectly ascribed to Mark Twain, has in fact appeared in various permutations over the last 200 years.
That doesn’t take away from the quote’s meaning however, or Dog’s sincere intentions.
Fans replied with love and support for Dog’s courageous posting. His wife Beth did undergo a recent operation for fluid buildup in the lungs, related to her ongoing lung cancer treatment.
“Sending healing prayers to Beth & the Chapmans ♥ï¸â™¥ï¸â™¥ï¸ just saw the rumour about Beth how horrible !!! Rumours are low negative entities ignore it stay aligned in love & light ????Amen,” wrote one fan int he comments section.
“I woke up with Beth in my thoughts this morning…May her room be filled with His sweet presence and her heart be at peace. #prayhealingforbeth ♥ï¸,” wrote another.
Beth, 51, the always energetic reality TV bounty was deeply slandered by the fake video. All through her cancer, Beth has remained chipper, optimistic and brave. She’s also looked healthy and vigorous in her many postings to social media.
The split-screen cover photo of the hoax video depicted Dog weeping on the left, and an ailing Beth on the right, apparently at death’s door. The video begins, “Sad News Beth Dog The Bounty Hunter’s Wife May Passed Away Expected Soon.”
Naturally, some of her loving fans were fooled.
“RIP Beth Chapman,” wrote one fan in twitter tribute.
RIP Beth Chapman.. ???? https://t.co/1f1nd3YW4b
Abbie Grubb (@Browneyedlady69) April 22, 2019
“Don't forget the reason for the season,” she wrote in an Instagram post.
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During Beth’s April hospitalization, doctors performed an operation to help relieve the pain and pressure that fluid buildup can create.
"Beth was hospitalized … due to an accumulation of fluid in her lungs,” says a statement on Duane ‘the Dog’ Chapman’s Facebook. “Doctors performed an emergency procedure to alleviate pressure that had built up. She is now at home resting with her husband. She and [husband Duane “Dog” Chapman] are so grateful for the thoughts and prayers from their fans. Keep them coming.”
While we don’t know the specifics of Beth Chapman’s case, we do know that the most common kind of fluid buildup that can happen during lung cancer is what is called “pleural effusion,” or fluid buildup around the space between the lungs and the chest wall. When this happens, the fluid can push on the lungs and create a lot of pressure.
Doctors can try to drain the fluid by inserting a needle or a tube into the affected area. They can also insert something called “talc,” which helps the layers of tissue in this area stick together, and prevent fluid from building up. In the most difficult cases, doctors might opt for surgery to redirect the fluid to another part of the body, or to remove the tissue in the area.
Chapman was initially diagnosed with throat cancer in 2017. She had surgery, and was declared cancer free. But in 2018, Beth learned that her cancer had spread to the lungs and had moved to stage four, after she was rushed to the hospital for difficulty with her breathing.
Since her cancer diagnosis, Beth and Dog have stayed committed to each other and to the bounty hunting life. As recently as one day ago, Beth posted a photo on Instagram of “his and hers” bounty hunting armor. And last week Dog published a photo of a happy and vigorous looking Beth, whom he labeled “Property of Dog”.
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