Four Local Kids Named to 2026 Iowa Hawkeye Kid Captain Class

Four local kids from the KMCH listening area have been named Kid Captains for the 2026 Iowa Hawkeye football season. 

Started in 2009 by University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital in partnership with the Iowa Hawkeyes, the Kid Captain program honors pediatric patients by sharing their inspirational stories of resilience.

This year’s Kid Captains from our local area include:

Beau Harvey, 15, Cascade

Iowa vs. UNI on September 19th

Born with a rare heart defect called Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome, Beau Harvey underwent several surgeries in Michigan before transferring his care to Stead Family Children’s Hospital. There, he was diagnosed with plastic bronchitis, a rare complication that caused lymph fluid to build up in his airways and make breathing difficult. In November 2025, Beau received a heart transplant is now looking ahead with hope.

Eliana Gaul, 9, Peosta

Iowa vs. Ohio State on October 3rd

Diagnosed before birth with spina bifida, Eliana arrived at just 25 weeks’ gestation weighing slightly more than a pound after a planned fetal surgery could not be completed. Since transferring her care to Stead Family Children’s Hospital as an infant, she has undergone numerous procedures, including laser eye surgery, treatment for club feet and kidney stones, shunt placement for hydrocephalus, implantation of a brain stimulator for epilepsy, hip dysplasia correction, and most recently, spinal fusion surgery for scoliosis.

Kaelyn O’Brien, 13, Jesup

Iowa at Minnesota on October 24th

When Kaelyn O’Brien couldn’t walk down the hallway and her speech became slurred, her parents thought their then 11-year-old daughter was having a stroke. After a series of tests, Kaelyn was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system. She also experienced a rare complication called paraneoplastic syndrome, in which her immune system fought the cancer, but mistakenly attacked the part of the brain responsible for balance, language production, and fine motor skills. Alongside chemotherapy, Kaelyn had to re-learn basic skills, like writing and walking. Today, her cancer is in remission.

Isaac Raue, 15, Coggon

Iowa vs. Nebraska on November 27th

A house fire that tragically took the life of his father left Isaac with life-threatening third-degree burns over 25-percent of his body. Isaac was taken to a local hospital before being flown to Stead Family Children’s Hospital. After being stabilized in the pediatric intensive care unit, Isaac spent 60 days recovering in the burn unit, undergoing skin grafts and other surgeries. Isaac periodically continues to undergo treatment with his most recent skin graft in December of last year.

You can find more information about all of this year’s Kid Captains at https://uihc.org/childrens/kid-captain#row-295656.