Beth Chapman loved to get new designs painted and bedazzled onto her long beautiful nails, and now a sisterhood of women are getting their nails done to honor Beth’s memory. It’s a small way to keep Beth’s spirit alive after her death late last month from cancer.
Read MoreView this post on InstagramCried the whole time but it was totally worth it iLy @nailsbydanny & @mrsdog4real ????
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!”
The post comes after an initial post featuring a photo of Beth’s hand on a steering wheel, her signature long nails painted in bright tie dyed colors. “My heart is so heavy [broken heart emoji] she was so amazing, I was so lucky….” the post read.
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 is time”
“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.”
But Cecily isn’t the only one paying tribute to Beth by styling her nails after Beth’s. In a recent flurry of tweets, women who watched Beth over the years have been showing off their sparkly manicured nails, and paying tribute to Beth’s glamorous memory.
In a response to one of Beth Chapman’s husband Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman’s posts about Beth’s death, one woman tweeted a photo of her glittery pink nails with the caption, “Showing my sparkly nails in honor of Beth Chapman. RIP sweet lady. Prayers for comfort for the family.”
Showing my sparkly nails in honor of Beth Chapman. RIP sweet lady. Prayers for comfort for the family. pic.twitter.com/zzg7INSAV6
Loretta Parton (@LorettaParton8) June 26, 2019
Another posted a photo of her long acrylic pink nails, “@DogBountyHunter @MrsdogC Got my nails redone today. Not in the league of Beth’s but I’m pleased.”
@DogBountyHunter @MrsdogC Got my nails redone today. Not in the league of Beth’s but I’m pleased. pic.twitter.com/vGMhtZsZJE
Lisa (@LisaDevon77) July 2, 2019
One supporter who knew how much Beth adored the color pink paid tribute to Beth with her own hot pink nails, writing “Just wanted to say that I painted my nails pink. In honor of Beth Chapman. I know Beth loves pink because of the pink mace and the pink handcuffs that she had in the show. She also had pink fake nails every time I saw her nails on television.”
Just wanted to say that I painted my nails pink. In honor of Beth Chapman. I know Beth loves pink because of the pink mace and the pink handcuffs that she had in the show. She also had pink fake nails every time I saw her nails on television. pic.twitter.com/NffUtqYrfI
shawna (@shawna98132120) June 27, 2019
And another talked about using Beth’s guiding voice to help her pick out her glittery nails for the prom.
@DogBountyHunter hey, i have a couple of friends that talked to beth for over eight years… she even picked out her nail colour for her prom… god bless pic.twitter.com/AgD5d93Iq5
???? Boydcentral???????????? (@jessica62497993) July 4, 2019
Beth’s nails are an extremely important part of her legacy, but as Beth fought cancer, she also left behind behind a legacy of openness and transparency about her diagnosis. Through her social media accounts, her shows, and her Mother’s Day speech at a church in Florida, Beth made clear the pain of living with cancer, her belief in faith to carry her through, and that no one with the disease should be alone or without information about their illness.
In that spirit, we’re providing information about throat cancer. Because paining nails in Beth’s honor is a way to lift the spirits, we’re also providing information about fear and anxiety during cancer, and some of the ways to lift ourselves out of it.
Information about throat cancer
Throat cancer includes any cancer of the pharynx (throat), which is a hollow tube about 5 inches long that starts behind the nose and leads to the esophagus, according to the National Institutes of Health. The throat has three parts: the nasopharynx (the upper part of the pharynx, behind the nose); the oropharynx (the middle part of the pharynx, including the soft palate [the back of the mouth], the base of the tongue, and the tonsils); the hypopharynx (the lower part of the pharynx).
Throat cancer falls under the larger category of “head and neck cancers,” along with cancers of the oral cavity, voice box, sinus and nasal cavity, and salivary glands. Head and neck cancer account for about 4 percent of all cancers in the United States, and are about twice as common among men than they are among women. They are also more common among people over the age of 50 than they are in young people.
The symptoms of throat cancer include trouble breathing or speaking, pain when swallowing, pain in the neck or the throat that does not go away, frequent headaches, pain, or ringing in the ears, or trouble hearing.
Throat cancer is often linked to alcohol and tobacco use, and infection with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). In the United Staes, even as the incidence of head and neck cancer decreases, the incidence of HPV-linked head and neck cancers is increasing.
It is not yet known whether the Food and Drug Administration-approved HPV vaccines prevent HPV infection of the oral cavity, and none of these vaccines has yet been approved for the prevention of head and neck cancer, according to the NIH, however, they may reduce the risk of HPV-related head and neck cancer.
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.
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