Beth Chapman dead at 51

Beth Chapman, wife of “Dog The Bounty Hunter,” lost her battle with cancer this morning at Hawaii Queen’s Medical Center surrounded by loved ones. She was admitted to the hospital on June 22 when she was having trouble breathing and placed in a medically-induced coma.

First, below is a reminder that Beth Chapman was a total badass. So we know she fought this with everything she had. It’s heartbreaking to see cancer take another young, strong, individual. #cancersucks

Okay, back to the news.

Duane Dog Chapman tweeted that his wife ‘hiked the stairway to heaven’ at 5:32 a.m.

Beth is survived by her husband, four children (Bonnie Jo, Cecily, Dominic and Garry) and 14 grandchildren – many of which flew to Honolulu to be by her side.

Dog posted a bedside tribute to his wife on Monday, a bittersweet photo of her rhinestone manicure – something she was known for and would have appreciated.

The reality star – who has struggled with throat cancer for years – was reportedly in a lot of pain and required oxygen.

Duane pleaded with his fans Saturday to pray for his wife.

Beth underwent successful surgery for throat cancer in 2017, the same year she was diagnosed

“I knew I couldn’t let it take me over,” she said in an interview with PEOPLE. “I had to keep moving, every day, moving forward. That’s all you can do when you get a diagnosis like this. So I take it each day at a time. And I’ll fight it with all that I have.”

However, the cancer returned last year and doctors removed a tumor from her throat after an emergency surgery in November.

At the time, their attorney, Andrew Brettler, said the family was staying strong, but that the surgery was serious. He assured friends and fans letting them know she had excellent doctors who were evaluating her best options.

When Beth first learned of her diagnosis, she chose to tell her loved ones in a letter.

As most of you know, I’ve spent a lifetime facing tests and challenges I didn’t see coming and certainly never expected. I’ve been dealt my share of unexpected blows over the course of my almost 50 years, but nothing as serious as the one I heard from my doctors two weeks ago when they uttered those dreaded three words, ‘You have cancer.’

After months of a nagging cough, a routine checkup resulted in a diagnosis of stage II throat cancer. I have what is referred to as a T2 Tumor in my throat that is blocking my breathing. My doctors are suggesting immediate treatment and surgery before the disease progresses.

– Beth Chapman’s diagnosis letter

The Chapmans rose to fame from their hit show “Dog The Bounty Hunter” based around the family’s bail bond business in Honolulu.

Viewers caught a small glimpse at the world of bounty hunting, with Dog at the helm and Beth by his side, the family sought out and arrested people who broke terms of their bail agreements.

The power couple starred in a spin-off series, Dog and Beth: On the Hunt in August 2015, and recently did a two-hour special called Dog and Beth: Fight of Their Lives in November.

On Dog and Beth: Fight of Their Lives, there was a scene where Dog is talking to the camera and he says, “If you love me, Lord, you’ll let me die first. Don’t let me bury Bethy.”

And now I’m really sad.