Iowa football details this week’s Kid Captain epitomizing resiliency

This week’s Kid Captain for the Iowa Hawkeyes epitomizes resiliency.

For each home game for the Iowa Hawkeyes, there is a very special Kid Captain on the field with them ready to do their part.

These Kid Captains have battled through adversity throughout their childhood and continue to fight every day to win against whatever they are facing. This week’s Kid Captain is the epitome of resiliency.

During his weekly press conference, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz talked about this week’s Kid Captain, Mya Gilchrist, and what she has overcome to be here with the Hawkeyes.

“Lastly, I’ll tell you a little bit about our Kid Captain. Mya Gilchrist from Center Point will be with us on Saturday. When she was young, just an infant, she was diagnosed with a tumor on her brainstem. 18-month-old at that point and was treated at Stead Family Hospital. And unfortunately the cancer reappeared at age 5 and then again at age 12. Treated again and then was doing really well,” Ferentz began with.

“About a year ago she was tired, kind of sluggish, and they discovered she had a rare form of blood cancer. So she’s had a lot of battles and doing really well right now. She’s an 18-year-old who is doing very well. And it will be great to have her with us. Obviously, she really epitomizes how to handle setbacks, if anything else. We’re excited to have her join us,” Ferentz continued as he discussed Mya’s resiliency.

As Iowa prepares to get ready for their matchup against the Troy Trojans, Mya Gilchrist will be getting ready to be on the field with the Hawkeyes after she has continued to fight and battle to get to that moment.

When fans turn to the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital, the song playing will be “We Wave” which is from former Hawkeye football player, Dalles Jacobus.

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