ANKENY, Iowa (KCRG) - Kiersten Mann, a 14-year-old from Ankeny will be the Kid Captain when the Hawkeyes host Wisconsin this Saturday.
When Kiersten was three, a babysitter noticed she was crawling up stairs instead of walking. Her parents Jim and the late Angie Mann knew something was wrong, so they went to local doctors.
Her parents were then referred to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital to meet with the pediatric neurology department.
Tests found Kiersten had limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, which impacts the body's ability to produce a protein that builds muscle.
The dystrophy also can cause heart issues, and in 2016 Kiersten was diagnosed with heart failure.
Kiersten received a heart transplant in February 2018 and is still healing today.
Kiersten will be recognized when the Hawkeyes take on the Badgers at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Kiersten.