Meet Aniyah Dismukes – 2024 Patient Champion

Department: Neurology

When Aniyah was five months old, her head started to grow and appear deformed. After going to her local family doctor, she was referred to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, she underwent a rapid MRI to give doctors a clear picture of what was causing these problems.

Aniyah was diagnosed with benign obstructive hydrocephalus, which is fluid around her brain. Doctors thought it might have been caused by head trauma. She had two options to stop the swelling and rapid head growth. Doctors could place shunts in her brain-which would require multiple surgeries- or Iowa’s pediatric neurosurgery team could take over her care and monitor her monthly. Her care team believed Aniyah’s body would heal on its own.

After transferring her care to Iowa City, Aniyah visited the children’s hospital monthly-sometimes more if there was a change in her scans or measurements. By the time she was 11 months old, the fluid had nearly absorbed on its own. She was cleared the following month, and today, Aniyah is a healthy, sassy, active six-year-old. You would never know she had anything wrong with her, and because of the outstanding team at Iowa, Aniyah leads a normal life.