2014 Kid Captain Hall of Fame

Aidan Smith

Aidan first came to UI Stead Family Children's Hospital in 2012 to participate in a research study involving children with juvenile-onset Huntington’s disease, a degenerative hereditary brain disorder that affects muscle coordination and cognitive function. The University of Iowa is a Huntington’s Disease Society of America Center of Excellence, one of only 21 in the United States focused on strengthening the relationship between clinical treatment and research for individuals affected by Huntington’s disease.

Liam Feeley

Liam was born with thrombocytopenia-absentradius, a rare genetic disorder resulting in missing bones in both of his arms. He came to UI Stead Family Children's Hospital when he was 2 months old for the specialized pediatric expertise needed to care for his unique condition. Prior to coming to UI Stead Family Children's Hospital, Liam’s arms were positioned in 90-degree angles. Surgeons were able to reposition his arms to 45-degree angles, which has lengthened Liam’s arms and allowed him to play sports like flag football, basketball, and baseball.

Rylan Mohr

Rylan was born with an extremely rare skin disease called epidermolysis bullosa, a condition that causes his skin to be extremely fragile and to blister and come off with the slightest friction. His condition was detected at birth, and he was transferred to UI Stead Family Children's Hospital when he was just 3 days old.

Charlotte Wagaman

Doctors discovered a mass on Charlotte’s heart when her mother was just 20 weeks pregnant with her. Her mother was referred to University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics for more extensive ultrasounds.

Maree Scholl

Maree was playing at a neighborhood park with her friends and cousins in June 2013 when a 17-foot wooden pole came loose from the playground equipment and hit her on the head. Her skull was fractured in four places and was flown by helicopter to UI Stead Family Children's Hospital. Doctors weren’t sure if Maree would survive, and if she did, there were concerns about brain injury, facial movement, and her ability to walk and talk.

Caitlyn Hill

When Caitlyn’s parents were considering moving to Iowa City in 2006 they wanted to be sure their then-3-year-old daughter would have excellent care for her sickle cell anemia, a red blood cell disorder that mostly affects African Americans in the U.S. Their hopes were realized when they met the UI Stead Family Children's Hospital’s hematology team.

Marijka Michmershuizen

Marijka was 4 years old when she was flown by helicopter to UI Stead Family Children's Hospital after a diagnosis of meningitis led to several seizures and four strokes. A neurologist at the Des Moines hospital where she was first treated was concerned for her health and unsure what was triggering the strokes, so Marijka was sent to Iowa City, where the state’s only pediatric infectious disease doctors are located.

Noah, Isaiah, and Elijah Mulder

Noah first came to University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital with genetic heart complications when he was 11. He had been seeing pediatric cardiologists at UI Stead Family Children's Hospital for two years when a test became available to identify the genetic defect. In 2013, all three Mulder boys – Noah, Isaiah, and Elijah – were found to carry the genetic defect.

Matthew McCarthy

Matthew was a healthy and happy 9-month-old until October 11, 2005. That morning he was squirming and squealing and trying to crawl away from his mother while she was getting him dressed for the day. Eight hours later, he was paralyzed from the shoulders down and fighting for his life.

Margaret Schafer

When Margaret was 11 years old, she started experiencing severe pain in her legs, hips, and shoulders – pain that made it difficult to get dressed or get on and off the school bus. Her local physician thought she might be having growing pains but the pain kept getting worse. In the spring of 2012, a pain specialist in Cedar Falls referred Margaret to a rheumatologist at UI Stead Family Children's Hospital.

Faith LeMaster

Faith was transferred to the UI Stead Family Children's Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit when she was five days old. She had multiple organ failure, bleeding on the brain and gastrointestinal issues. In her 10 years of care at UI Stead Family Children's Hospital, she has been seen by doctors and nurses in 17 different areas.

Joseph Burken

Joseph was on vacation in Chicago with his family when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The 5-year-old spent 10 days at a Chicago hospital before being transferred to UI Stead Family Children's Hospital, where a care team had already been consulted and was ready to help.

Treytun Garcia

Doctors diagnosed Treytun with scleroderma when he was just 4 years old. Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease often characterized by the hardening of the skin and connective tissues.