Abi Tuiasosopo Wins Two Congress Reserve Titles While Facing Cancer Diagnosis
By: Brittany Bevis
Earlier this week, Abi Tuiasosopo rode her beloved bay mare with the flowing mane, Lexus Made Lady, to win a Reserve Congress Championship in both the 3-Year-Old Limited Non Pro Western Pleasure Futurity and 3-Year-Old Non Pro Open Western Pleasure Futurity. For Abi, winning two Reserve Congress titles was truly a dream come true after an absence from the show pen for nearly 13 years.
The joy was evident from the ever-present smile on her face, but amidst the sparkles and smiles, red roses and ribbons, what many people might not have guessed is that Abi is currently facing a serious health battle.
“I’m writing you from the hospital 24 hours after surgery,” Abi says. “My doctor was very thorough and saw no other sign of cancer. Part of my colon was removed as well as the area around the lesion. The next weeks will tell us more about treatment moving forward. For now, we can rejoice in a best case scenario. Even though it’s a hard situation, there’s a lot of good to focus on!”
You see, after Abi competed on Monday, she and her husband drove through the night to get back to Georgia for pre-operation blood work and a meeting with her oncologist before she was scheduled to have surgery on Wednesday at 3:00 pm.
“Three weeks ago, I went in for what was a procedure that I was told was being done as a precaution. The doctor felt there was very little risk of anything serious, but he advised that I have a few tests done just to rule out anything serious. After my first procedure, the doctor came in and told my husband and I that he had found a lesion on my colon. He explained it would be biopsied, and I would need a full body CT scan.”
Unfortunately, the test results revealed that the lesion was cancerous. Thankfully, doctors believed it was in the early stages; however she would need to have surgery.
“My husband, Matt, and I sat there in shock. There were so many unknowns. One of the hardest things was waiting on the biopsy results and CT scan. It allowed us to rally and pray with loved ones. I was so scared, but continued to pray and trust with my loved ones’ support. I kept fighting through the mental battles. I had the CT scan, and it came back showing no other areas of concern. This was a huge blessing!”
Flashback to four months ago, this was certainly not what Abi had planned for October. After an excellent showing this year at both the Tom Powers Futurity and NSBA World Show, Abi was looking forward to competing at the Congress.
“The Congress is a mental battle of its own, but going there knowing what awaited me at home was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It may have been easier if I hadn’t been so open about my recent health struggles, but I felt God continue to prompt me to be real. That’s hard when you have to face it and talk through it. Some people in Ohio asked me about it, while others simply hugged me a little tighter than usual. All of this helped me push through. I was scared, but I wanted to show because I do feel like Iggy has been a gift from heaven. I promised God that if I ever returned to the arena I would honor Him. I would return changed. He has blessed me.”
Going into the Congress, Lexus Made Lady, aka “Iggy” had only been showing for four months. “That amazes me, because she has handled everything with such grace. I’ve had the time of my life showing her,” Abi says. “Iggy was raised at the Parrish’s Farm, and we bought her in September of 2015. After much discussion and prayer, Bret, Candy, and Cody thought she would be the perfect horse for me to return to the arena on. She has surpassed all my expectations in so many ways. She’s very kind. She loves my kids; she’s always so curious about them and nuzzles their hair. Her personality makes her even more special because she’s curious and would prefer to be in your pocket or playing with your clothes. She’s busy, but I do my best not to spoil her too much!”
Iggy’s first show was the Little Futurity with Cody Parrish in the saddle. Abi’s first time showing Iggy, and first time back in the show pen in 13 years, was at the Tom Powers Futurity. “I was so nervous! We won the Novice Horse and Novice Rider Western Pleasure and the 3-Year-Old Limited Non Pro Western Pleasure. Then, we went to the Show For Dough and won the 3-Year-Old Limited Western Pleasure.”
The next step on their journey was the NSBA World Show. Going into the event, Abi was focused but anxious. Ever since she was fifteen years old, one of her goals was to win at a World Show. She accomplished that goal winning both the Breeders’ Cup and NSBA 3-Year-Old Limited Non Pro Western Pleasure. “It’s been such a fun year. I truly feel like I’m living a dream!”
For Abi, this has been a long journey back to the show pen. Her father took her for her first riding lesson when she was seven years old. “My mom was too scared to come watch!” Abi says. “From the first time I rode, and even now, horses offered me so much freedom. I loved everything about it: the smell, picking stalls, grooming them, everything. If life got hard or I needed to vent, I would go ride.”
Abi competed in all-around events as a youth and for a few years in the amateur division. Then, when she was 23, an attempted rape prompted her to leave equine competition altogether to focus on healing and recovery. “I quit traveling and showing, because I needed to take time to heal. That was when my journey to become better, not bitter, began. I never knew if I would have the opportunity to show again, but my memories of horses always remained close to my heart.”
During that tough time, and now again with this recent cancer diagnosis, Abi has relied on her faith, friends, and family to see her through. “When we prayed, I asked my family to pray about the Congress. I wanted to show, but would only do that if there was no risk to my health. On the day I met with the surgeon, I explained that God had brought a very special horse into my life and that we had the largest show of the year in two weeks. I said, ‘If I was your sister, would you advise me to go?’ He looked at me and said, ‘I would tell my sister, if she could handle it emotionally, to go and show and come back and take care of everything else.’ Tears flowed because that was an answer to my prayer. As it worked out, the first day he had available for surgery was October 26th. That would be two days after I would finish showing!”
“My faith is the only reason I press on! The mental battle has been so hard. I’ve learned so much about taking thoughts captive. There have been so many people praying for and over me. I believe in the power of prayer. I believe in miracles. My situation could’ve been much worse, but God’s grace has, and will, see me through this! Some days I hear the words ‘strong and courageous.’ Other days, I quote scripture and God’s promises to help remind me where my strength comes from.”
“The first time I learned about my diagnosis, I heard God saying to be open and real! If you know me personally, I’m a private person. Speaking out is hard enough, but speaking out about personal struggle is impossible. But with God, all things are possible. He continues to give me the strength to speak out about what’s going on in my life. My desire in this situation, just like with my horses, is to solely glorify Him! He has so blessed me. It’s an honor to live and ride and pursue my passion to bring Him glory. I pray His light and peace shines through all I do.”
Abi says there’s no way she could have tackled competing at the Congress while facing a cancer diagnosis without the support of her family. Her mother, father, and brother came to the Congress to cheer her on, in addition to her husband and two young sons, 3-year-old Siah and 18-month-old Haven. “It amazed me because my husband loved watching! He had never seen me show at a big event. He was so supportive. It’s not easy having two small kids at a horse show, but they handled it like champs. I’m so thankful that I’m married to someone who dreams with me. He said he loved watching me ride, because I looked so free! I can honestly say I love him more now than I ever have. He has championed for me.”
“I felt a peace when I showed, and I know that’s because of all the prayers. I’ve felt more loved and supported through this process than I ever could have imagined. Being real and raw was something I thought I was called to do for others to honor God, but in turn I’m the one who has been so blessed.”
As she continues this journey toward recovery, Abi has a number of people she’d like to thank. “It’s an honor to represent the Parrish family. They aren’t just my trainers; they’re some of my dearest friends. I can’t thank everyone enough: my family, the Parrish’s, the Meredith’s, the Bryant’s, The Turner’s, Philip Martin, Gordon Downey, Kim Reynold, Kristin Galyean, the Oliver’s, Laura McAllister. the Parker’s, and so many people at the Congress who took the time to hug or love on me during a tough time. It was truly inspiring to feel so embraced. I carry those memories with me at the hospital while I recover! I’m truly the most blessed girl in the world!”
This evening, Abi will be watching from the hospital as Cody Parrish shows Iggy in the 3-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure Futurity Limited finals and the 3-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure finals tomorrow morning. We wish this team the very best of luck in both life and the show pen.
We are with you Abi.
Phil 4:13
