Kid Captain
Announcing the 2024 Kid Captains
Select a kid to learn more about their story
Carter Schmidt, 8, Coralville, Iowa
Iowa vs. Illinois State, Aug. 31
Carter had been healthy until he was 9 months old, when his daycare provider noticed he was pale, lethargic and not eating. A blood draw taken at his local doctor’s office showed a high white blood cell count and low red blood cells, raising the suspicion of leukemia. After a transfer to Stead Family Children’s Hospital, specialists diagnosed Carter with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia, a rare cancer of the blood that affects just one in 1.2 million children. Because Carter also had a specific genetic defect in his blood, his care team proceeded with a bone marrow transplant. He underwent radiation that targeted the leukemia and received the transplant two days before his first birthday. Carter’s health gradually improved, and he stayed in the hospital for three months before being discharged. His cancer has been in remission ever since.
Atlas Coleman, 8, West Des Moines, Iowa
Iowa vs. ISU, Sep. 7
When doctors at their local hospital diagnosed Atlas with a non-cancerous lung condition, the toddler’s parents requested a referral to Stead Family Children’s Hospital, where specialists determined he actually had a rare, aggressive cancer called Pleuropulmonary Blastoma (PPB). Because of its rarity, there was no standard treatment plan available at the children’s hospital, but our doctors worked with a partner program to design a custom plan to fit Atlas’ care needs, which included six months of chemotherapy. Atlas was also diagnosed with a DICER1 genetic mutation. This puts him at a high risk for certain types of cancers as he ages, meaning Atlas will require continued monitoring throughout his life. He has been cancer-free for six years.
Mya Gilchrist, 18, Center Point, Iowa
Iowa vs. Troy, Sep. 14
After experiencing issues with her balance, Mya—at just 18 months old— was diagnosed with a malignant pilocytic astrocytoma—a tumor of the brainstem—and a 10 percent chance of survival. Her parents knew they wanted to transfer Mya’s care to Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Surgeons were able to remove most of the tumor and Mya then began 74 weeks of chemotherapy. Unfortunately at the ages of 5 and 12, Mya’s cancer relapsed, prompting about 18 months of chemotherapy each time. A few years later, Mya became constantly tired, couldn’t focus and was not feeling well. Tests showed her tumor was not growing, but a bone marrow biopsy in 2023 led to a diagnosis of polycythemia vera, which causes bone marrow to make too many red blood cells and is treated by regular blood draws. Now 18, Mya has undergone additional testing to adjust her treatment plan.
Aiden Washburn, 8, Keokuk, Iowa
Iowa at Minnesota, Sep. 21
Aiden’s care at Stead Family Children’s Hospital began before he was born. At 23 weeks gestation, Aiden was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a birth defect in which the left side of the heart—the side that pumps oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body—severely underdeveloped. Within 24 hours of his birth, doctors took Aiden to his first open heart surgery. By the time he was a week old, Aiden would have a second surgery for his heart. Over the next 3 years, doctors would perform two additional surgeries on his heart with inpatient stays each time. Aiden is expected to need a heart transplant in the near future.
Haidyn Ulrich, 15, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Iowa at Ohio State, Oct. 5
Haidyn had been healthy until she was 7, when she started experiencing neck pain and began sleeping for 22 hours at a time. Numerous tests finally led to a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia—a cancer of the blood and bone marrow— and she began treatment at Stead Family Children’s Hospital. For two years, Haidyn received chemotherapy treatments along with spinal taps, pulmonary breathing treatments, and cardiology care to mitigate the effects of the chemo. Her treatment ended in April 2018 and she’s remained cancer-free ever since, coming annually to the children’s hospital for checkups.
Jackson Casteel, 7, Panora, Iowa
Iowa vs. Washington, Oct. 12
Jackson was born prematurely at 34 weeks with multiple brain bleeds, vision issues, and an unknown genetic disease. His parents were given little hope for Jackson’s survival at their local hospital, which led them to bring their then-6-week-old son to Iowa City to work with the genetics team at Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Here specialists diagnosed Jackson with a very rare genetic condition called Chondrodysplasia Punctata X-Linked Recessive Type 1 (CDPX1), a form of dwarfism with limited research data that’s estimated to affect less than 150 people worldwide. In his first three years of life, Jackson underwent a handful of treatments and received additional diagnoses, including spastic quad cerebral palsy, a severe form of epilepsy referred to as infantile spasms, scoliosis, and cortical vision impairment. Working with a multitude of specialists, Jackson has overcome more health challenges than most and continues to receive specialized, multidisciplinary care at Stead Family Children's Hospital.
Hudson Ferris, 12, Eldridge, Iowa
Iowa at Michigan State, Oct. 19
At 9 years old, Hudson experienced frequent pain and extreme fatigue. After some initial testing, his local pediatrician referred the family to Stead Family Children’s Hospital where he was diagnosed with stage 4 high-risk neuroblastoma. Doctors found a 6 cm tumor on Hudson’s vertebrae, as well as cancer throughout his body. Initially, treatment meant five cycles of chemotherapy and surgery to remove the tumor. Then, doctors at the children’s hospital connected Hudson and his family to an out-of-state hospital where he underwent back-to-back stem cell transplants after undergoing more high-dose chemotherapy. Hudson would return to Iowa City to complete his treatment with Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Overall, Hudson spent 18 months in treatment. His cancer has been in remission for more than a year.
Adeline Lovell, 6, Clear Lake, Iowa
Iowa vs. Northwestern, Oct. 26
When Adeline was 4 years old, her parents took her to her local pediatrician for a strange rash and a fever that wouldn’t go away. After testing, the doctor told Adeline’s family that the young girl had leukemia and recommended they seek treatment at Stead Family Children’s Hospital, despite it being further from their Clear Lake, Iowa, home. Adeline was diagnosed with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). She began chemotherapy at the children’s hospital but her care team had to pivot after the young girl experienced anaphlaxysis—an allergic reaction—during a treatment. Thankfully, her care team was able to deliver her chemo by giving her leg shots instead. Adeline went into remission two months into treatment and her chemotherapy is scheduled to end this fall.
Hunter Mickelson, 9, Clive, Iowa
Iowa vs. Wisconsin, Nov. 2
When Hunter was about 6 months old, his parents took him to their local hospital for failure to thrive and high sodium levels. Feeling they needed to investigate further, Hunter’s parents sought a consultation with the genetics team at Stead Family Children’s Hospital. After being admitted he was diagnosed with nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, a rare, genetic kidney condition affecting 1 in 2.3 million people that can lead to severe dehydration if left untreated. Hunter received a blood transfusion, a central line to his heart, and a gastrostomy tube for nutrition. While there is no cure, the condition can be managed through large intakes of water, even during the night, and twice-daily medication. Hunter can participate in sports and other activities if he stays hydrated and regularly returns to Stead Family Children’s Hospital for checkups.
Nataleigh Mochal, 9, Oelwein, Iowa
Iowa at UCLA, Nov. 8
After her mother was rushed to Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Nataleigh was born at 25 weeks. Because she wasn’t breathing, doctors worked to resuscitate her and address two brain bleeds. Then, at just 2 weeks old, Nataleigh underwent heart surgery to repair patent ductus arteriosus, an opening between two blood vessels leading from the heart. Nataleigh weighed about as much as a newborn at 8 pounds when she was discharged four months later with a heart monitor and feeding tube. She remained on oxygen, eventually developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia, a chronic lung condition. Nataleigh later developed severe urticaria, or chronic hives, and asthma. She continues to be seen at Stead Family Children’s Hospital as needed.
Raelyn Miller-Ramirez, 9, Davenport, Iowa
Iowa at Maryland, Nov. 23
After Raelyn began to regularly lose her balance and an eye specialist detected an anomaly during a routine exam, the 6-year-old was diagnosed with medulloblastoma grade IV. This is a cancerous, fast-growing primary central nervous system tumor that begins in the brain or spinal cord. Still living in Oregon at the time, surgeons removed the tumor, but Raelyn lost her vision and developed posterior fossa syndrome and had to learn how to walk and talk again. After radiation treatment, Raelyn’s parents decided to move the family to Iowa and transfer her care to Stead Family Children’s Hospital, where Raelyn regularly sees specialists who have helped her learn to thrive. Regular scans have shown no cancer for four years.
Lukas Hazen, 12, Muscatine, Iowa
Iowa vs. Nebraska, Nov. 29
Lukas Hazen’s parents were warned their son might not survive childbirth after prenatal ultrasounds detected multiple brain bleeds. Born early at their local hospital at 34 weeks, Lukas was transferred to University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital. He was diagnosed with neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia, a rare condition in which maternal-fetal platelet incompatibility leads to the mother’s body reacting to the pregnancy with antibodies, resulting in a low blood platelet count. Lukas was given double transfusions of platelets and blood and discharged five weeks later. His condition led to cerebral palsy, which affects his movement; cortical visual impairment, in which his brain cannot process what he sees; and serious seizures categorized as catastrophic infantile spasms. Lukas uses a wheelchair and assistive devices to help him communicate. He underwent hip reconstruction surgery and spinal fusion surgery to treat scoliosis, a sideways curvature of the spine, and regularly returns to Stead Family Children’s Hospital for checkups.
