Owners Natalie and Jill Umphress of Carrolton, Illinois, eagerly awaited Bright Lite's, Cupcake's, as they call her second foal. All went smoothly until the end of October when Natalie noticed Cupcake was having difficulty breathing. Three different veterinarians said that she had respiratory inflammation. But when the mare didn't improve with treatment, Natalie's local vet wanted Cupcake to be examined further. He located Dr. Thomas Monfort in Farmers City, Illinois, who was familiar with equine respiratory problems, to perform a scope.
   The results showed a growth was blocking the mare's throat, and an emergency tracheotomy was done to oxygenate her system before further surgery to remove it. The news wasn't good. Monfort was afraid Cupcake would lose the foal and have a 50% chance of surviving the surgery herself. The diagnosis left little hope, and Natalie cried all the way back to Carrolton where she impatiently awaited news from the doctor.
   The surgery was performed on a Saturday, and Monfort called to report he had successfully removed the growth, but a long slow recovery would follow.
   By that Tuesday, however, he called again and said Cupcake was ready to go home. Her progress had been remarkable, and to add to the joy, the foal was alive and kicking. Natalie breathed a sigh of relief that the crisis had passed. But not for long.
   In January she noticed the mare making the same raspy breathing noise, and it was back to Monfort. He rescoped and found another growth but could not chance surgery at this point in her pregnancy. He would reopen the trach hole and again warned Natalie they would probably lose the foal due to the amount of anesthesia the mare would receive. By now, the mare acted as if every horse goes through this, and the foal pulled through again.
   March 2: Cupcake delivered a beautiful, big, colored colt and immediately got up to munch hay. After her hectic pregnancy, this was easy. Sired by Zips Chocolate Chip (AQHA), the foal is accurately named The Miracle Chip, but they call him Tommy after Monfort. Without him, they feel they wouldn't have the colt at all.
   Later Cupcake underwent surgery to remove the second growth, and while she has a permanent trach hole, she leads a normal life. As if she hasn't been through enough already, recently she developed cataracts in both eyes and will eventually be totally blind. Natalie isn't too worried, however. She says Cupcake knows her way around, and true to her heritage, she has the disposition, strong will and endurance of an Appaloosa to get her through yet another challenge.