This Week’s Hawkeye Kid Captain Had Surgery Before He Was Born
The Hawkeyes will need a bit of a boost this week as they take on the number 2 ranked team in the country, the Ohio State Buckeyes. The season hasn't exactly gone according to plan so far for the Hawkeyes but this is a new week. What better way to make your mark on this year's college football season, than upsetting one of the best teams in college football, in their home stadium? Gavin Miller is this week's Kid Captain for the Iowa Hawkeyes and hopefully, he can bring the team some luck.
When fans, players, coaches, and everyone in between wave to the children's hospital next to Kinnick Stadium, it's a magical moment. It's by far the best tradition in college sports. Along with the wave, the choosing of a Hawkeye's Kid Captain is a special moment for the children involved as well as their families. This week's kid captain had his first surgery before he was even born.
According to KWWL, Gavin Miller is a 13-year-old who also happens to be a twin brother. Early on during Gavin's mother's pregnancy, he was having trouble releasing urine, which resulted in two stunts that needed to be placed in utero to help drain his bladder. Sadly, both of those stunts failed. Unfortunately, Gavin ended up needing a kidney transplant.
According to KWWL, Gavin's twin brother Brayden was born without any underlying health concerns but Gavin was born with Prune Belly/Triad Syndrome. You may also know it as Eagle Barrett Syndrome.
According to Web MD, Prune Belly Syndrome is characterized as a triad syndrome because it can have three characterizations; missing or very weak abdominal muscles, one or two undescended testicles, or an abnormally large bladder and resulting problems with kidneys and urinary system.
According to KWWL, after Gavin turned one, he received a transplant at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. His grandmother ended up being the match he needed.
Gavin's mother and father spoke to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital and Jenny spoke about how long the kidney transplant would last. She said
We were told early on that if all goes well a transplanted kidney would hopefully last until Gavin’s teenage years. It’s been about 12 ½ years and his kidney is starting to show more signs of losing functionality, and we are nearing the time when another kidney transplant will be needed.
Gavin has been in and out of the hospital since he was a baby. According to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, Gavin needed his abdominal wall reconstructed when he was 3. Gavin has also recently been diagnosed with asthma and has started infusion treatments to help prevent the rejection of his transplanted kidney.
Gavin's Father, Jason, describes his son as a "miracle and is a constant reminder of how precious life is."
Now an 8th grader, Gavin has all kinds of various interests. He likes playing basketball, and golf. That's a huge thumbs up from me Gavin, I love golf too. He also acts as a football manager. He has a knack for music as well. He's in the choir and plays drums in a band.
The Hawkeye's Kid Captain will always be one of the greatest traditions in college football. Every week we have the opportunity to learn about the incredible bravery, toughness, and resiliency of the week's chosen captains. Hopefully, Gavin and his family can help the Hawkeyes bring home a victory this Saturday.