Spec. MD. Refika Ilbakan Hanimeli

As a 72-year-old grandmother caring for my 4-year-old grandson Ali while his parents work abroad, I was terrified when he developed a persistent high fever that wouldn't respond to basic medications. Dr. Refika didn't just treat Ali, she treated my anxiety too. She spent 45 minutes explaining viral infections in terms I could understand, drew diagrams on her notepad, and even called me the next day to check on us both. Her approach bridges generations with such grace. At Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir, she transformed a scary situation into a learning experience, and now Ali calls her 'the doctor who draws funny germs.'

Our 14-year-old daughter Elif, a competitive swimmer, was diagnosed with a complex cardiac arrhythmia that threatened her athletic future. Multiple doctors gave conflicting opinions until we found Dr. Refika. She coordinated with cardiology, sports medicine, and nutrition specialists at İstinye University Liv Hospital, creating an integrated treatment plan that felt like a personalized medical symphony. What stood out was how she spoke directly to Elif about her goals, not just her condition. Six months post-treatment, Elif is back in the pool, and we have Dr. Refika's meticulous follow-up protocol, including midnight email responses during international competitions, to thank for it.

In the middle of a holiday weekend, our 18-month-old son Kerem swallowed a button battery. The emergency room was chaotic, but Dr. Refika arrived within 20 minutes of being called, still in her civilian clothes. Her calm precision during the endoscopic removal was one thing, but her innovative prevention strategy afterward changed our household. She didn't just send us home with instructions; she had her team create Turkish-language 'button battery safety' cards with QR codes linking to demonstration videos. She turned our panic into proactive safety, and her follow-up calls at 48 hours and 2 weeks ensured complete healing. This wasn't just emergency care, it was emergency care with a legacy.

We brought our newborn Zeynep for what we thought would be a routine 2-month checkup. Dr. Refika noticed subtle asymmetrical movements during the examination that everyone else had missed. Her gentle persistence led to an early diagnosis of brachial plexus palsy from birth. Instead of alarming us, she framed it as 'early optimization' and designed a play-based physical therapy program using ordinary household items. Her approach transformed therapy sessions into bonding moments. Now at 9 months, Zeynep has full mobility, and we have a pediatrician who sees potential where others see problems. Dr. Refika doesn't just practice medicine; she practices foresight.