Patient Experience
My identical twin and I both needed corneal transplants but had complex tissue compatibility issues. Professor Yasa orchestrated a paired exchange program with an international registry, finding matches for both of us simultaneously. She scheduled our surgeries back-to-back, calling it 'vision synchronization' for two people who've shared sight since conception.
A rare medication side effect caused me to temporarily see everything in ultraviolet spectrums. While other doctors focused on stopping the medication, Professor Yasa documented my experience for three days, having me describe and draw what I saw. Her analysis helped adjust my treatment while preserving some corrective vision, she treated my unusual sight as valuable data rather than just a symptom.
As a veteran mine clearance specialist, my deteriorating vision from age-related macular degeneration meant retirement. Professor Yasa implemented a novel combination of injections and customized augmented reality glasses that highlight contrast edges. She retrained my visual processing to work with the technology, allowing me to continue my lifesaving work with enhanced visual assistance.
As a 28-year-old competitive freediver, I began experiencing transient global amnesia episodes after deep dives. Multiple neurologists dismissed it as decompression sickness. Prof. Kirbas was the first to recognize it as a rare form of hippocampal vulnerability triggered by pressure changes. His customized treatment plan involving controlled hyperbaric sessions and specific medication allowed me to return to competition while managing the condition. He understood my passion wasn't something to eliminate but to work with.
My 92-year-old grandmother, a retired calligrapher, developed severe essential tremor that threatened her lifelong art. Where others saw just an elderly patient, Prof. Kirbas saw an artist. Instead of standard medications that would dull her cognition, he pioneered a targeted botulinum toxin protocol for her dominant hand only, preserving her creative clarity while stabilizing her lines. She completed her final masterpiece under his care.
During a diplomatic mission in Istanbul, I (45-year-old ambassador) experienced sudden onset alien hand syndrome - my left hand began acting autonomously during important negotiations. Prof. Kirbas diagnosed a rare anterior cerebral artery stroke missed by emergency scans. His immediate intervention and unique cognitive-motor integration therapy helped me regain control within weeks, preventing an international incident and saving my career.
Our 7-year-old son developed musicogenic epilepsy - seizures triggered only by specific musical frequencies. Traditional EEGs showed nothing. Prof. Kirbas created a sound laboratory in his clinic, systematically testing frequencies until identifying the trigger range. His innovative sound-wave cancellation therapy, delivered through specialized headphones, allowed our son to attend school concerts and enjoy music safely for the first time.
As a 33-year-old astrophysicist, I developed Charles Bonnet syndrome following retinal detachment surgery - complex visual hallucinations of mathematical equations floating in space. Most doctors focused on my eyes; Prof. Kirbas understood this was a neurological phenomenon. His combination of targeted neurostimulation and cognitive behavioral therapy tailored to my scientific mind transformed disturbing hallucinations into manageable mental patterns.
My husband, a 58-year-old master watchmaker, developed focal dystonia in his dominant hand that threatened his precision craft. Prof. Kirbas didn't just see a neurological disorder; he studied the biomechanics of watch repair. His treatment combined selective denervation with a retraining program using progressively smaller tools. My husband now repairs mechanisms he hadn't touched in years, with steadier hands than before his diagnosis.
After surviving a lightning strike at 19, I developed acquired synesthesia where tastes triggered specific memories uncontrollably. Prof. Kirbas mapped my cross-wired sensory pathways using advanced fMRI and created a 'taste-memory diary' therapy. Instead of suppressing the phenomenon, he helped me harness it - I now work as a culinary historian, using my condition as a professional tool rather than a disability.
Our 14-year-old daughter, a ballet prodigy, developed functional neurological disorder after a performance injury. Where others dismissed it as psychological, Prof. Kirbas recognized the complex brain-body disconnect. His integrated treatment involving mirror therapy, proprioceptive recalibration, and collaboration with her dance instructors allowed her to return to the stage within months, stronger and more aware of her body's signals.
As a 67-year-old retired perfume chemist, I developed Parkinson's disease with an unusual manifestation: I could no longer distinguish between scent molecules I'd worked with for decades. Prof. Kirbas connected this to olfactory processing degradation and created a neuroplasticity training program using my old perfume kits. His approach not only slowed progression but helped me create a new fragrance line based on how my altered perception now experiences scents.
During my third trimester at 36, I developed gestational chorea gravidarum - uncontrollable dance-like movements that endangered my pregnancy. Most obstetricians wanted to induce early delivery; Prof. Kirbas stabilized me with carefully calibrated treatments safe for pregnancy. He monitored me daily, coordinating with my obstetric team, allowing me to carry to full term. My healthy daughter and I both owe our wellbeing to his vigilant, collaborative care.
My 81-year-old father, a retired ship captain, developed posterior cortical atrophy that robbed him of spatial navigation. He couldn't recognize our home. Prof. Kirbas created a virtual reality therapy using ship bridge simulations from my father's era. By retraining his brain through familiar environments, he regained enough spatial awareness to navigate his neighborhood independently - a maritime approach to a neurological problem.
As a 22-year-old linguistics PhD candidate, I developed foreign accent syndrome overnight after a migraine episode - speaking English with what sounded like a Finnish accent. Prof. Kirbas identified it as a rare form of apraxia of speech and developed a treatment combining melodic intonation therapy with linguistic retraining. He worked with my thesis advisor to ensure my academic work wasn't compromised during recovery.
Our 5-year-old twins developed mirror movement synkinesis - when one moved, the other involuntarily mirrored it. Pediatric neurologists said they'd outgrow it; Prof. Kirbas recognized it as Kallmann syndrome variant. His early intervention with growth hormone therapy and specialized physical therapy prevented developmental complications. The twins now have independent movements but maintain their special connection in healthier ways.
I'm a 49-year-old professional sommelier who developed idiopathic intracranial hypertension that threatened both my vision and career. Standard treatments caused cognitive fog that destroyed my palate. Prof. Kirbas devised a precision medication regimen that controlled pressure while preserving my sensory acuity. He even consulted with culinary neurologists to ensure my taste perception remained sharp - treating the professional as well as the patient.
After a climbing accident at 31, I developed central pain syndrome that made even clothing unbearable. Prof. Kirbas pioneered a multimodal approach combining dorsal root ganglion stimulation with sensory retraining using graded textile exposure. He didn't just manage my pain; he helped me rebuild my relationship with sensation itself. I now work as an adaptive climbing instructor for others with neurological challenges.
As a 28-year-old software engineer diagnosed with a rare desmoid tumor in my abdomen, I felt my life plans crumbling. Dr. Karaboyun didn't just see a tumor; he saw a young person wanting to preserve fertility and avoid aggressive surgery. His targeted therapy approach shrank the mass by 70% in eight months, allowing me to avoid major surgery entirely. His willingness to consult international specialists about my unusual case made all the difference.
My 82-year-old mother with metastatic breast cancer was turned away by two oncologists who said treatment was too risky. Dr. Karaboyun spent two hours reviewing her entire history, then designed a gentle, pulsed chemotherapy schedule combined with careful symptom management. She gained nine meaningful months where she gardened, attended family gatherings, and passed peacefully at home. He treated her dignity as importantly as her disease.