Super Mom with a Super Kid
Suzanne Faske Tells Son Elijah’s Breakaway Breakthrough Story

Hear from Suzanne Faske, the wonder woman of a mom who has brought her kids up in the rodeo world.

Elijah Faske
Elijah Faske in the box on Catolena. | Jennings Rodeo Photography photo

The latest episode of The Breakaway Breakdown captures the story of Elijah Faske, the 12-year-old Texas cowboy who ropes legally blind, from his mom Suzanne’s perspective.

The Special Story of a Special Kid

When Elijah caught his calf at the January Texas Junior High Rodeo Association Region 7 rodeo in Edna, Texas, it was more than just a clean run for him and his family.

The video of Elijah’s first catch later made rounds on social media, but the story behind it starts earlier. Elijah came to the Faske family when he was nearly 6 years old, after a disrupted adoption. He was born in China with a birth defect that left one eye completely missing, and in the other eye he has coloboma, which causes gaps in his vision.

Host Calli Montague talks with Suzanne to hear the story of how Elijah found his way to breakaway roping, her experience as a mother of more than 28 kids, and how the Western way of life has truly changed her family for the better.

Some but not all of the Faske family, with Elijah on the very far left in the light blue shirt, and Suzanne front and center. | Family photo courtesy of Suzanne

Episode supported by Roping.com

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