Dr. Barış Peker

I was rushed to Acibadem International after a climbing accident in Turkey left me with a fractured C2 vertebra. As an expat, I was terrified. Dr. Barış Peker was my calm in the storm. He explained the complex 'hangman's fracture' with a 3D model, outlining why surgery wasn't immediately necessary but close monitoring was. His team created a rigid cervical collar for me. For six weeks, he personally checked on me every few days, adjusting the plan as I healed. His approach was conservative yet vigilant, avoiding an invasive fusion. Today, I have full mobility. He didn't just fix a bone; he gave me back my active life abroad. His command of English and compassionate, detailed care for a foreign patient was exceptional.

Our 8-year-old daughter, Elif, began having sudden, severe headaches and vomiting. Our local hospital suspected a tumor. We were referred to Dr. Peker in a state of utter panic. He met us not with clinical detachment, but with a gentle, fatherly warmth. He spent an hour just talking to Elif about her favorite cartoons before his examination. His diagnosis was a rare colloid cyst in the third ventricle—dangerous but operable. He explained the endoscopic surgery to us using a stuffed brain toy for Elif. The surgery was a success, with a tiny incision. At her follow-up, he had a small gift for her 'for being so brave.' He treated our child like his own, combining world-class surgical skill with profound humanity. We trust him with our most precious treasure.

At 72, my chronic back pain had become debilitating, and three other surgeons had recommended extensive, risky spinal fusions. Dr. Barış Peker was my fourth opinion. He reviewed my MRIs and said, 'Your problem is severe stenosis, but your spine is still dynamically stable. Let's try a targeted minimally invasive decompression first.' He was the only one who proposed a stepwise, less aggressive approach. The procedure was done through a tube, and I was walking the same day. The relief was immediate. At my one-year follow-up, I'm gardening and traveling again. He respected my age and desire for quality of life over a drastic operation. His wisdom was in knowing what *not* to cut, and his humility in choosing the simpler, elegant solution.

My story isn't about a dramatic surgery, but about vigilance that saved my life. I went to Dr. Peker for a routine consultation regarding occasional numbness in my hand, expecting a simple pinched nerve diagnosis. Instead, his meticulous neurological exam picked up a subtle, inconsistent reflex. He ordered a specific contrast MRI others hadn't. It revealed a small, asymptomatic arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in my spinal cord—a ticking time bomb. He explained the risks of rupture with devastating paralysis. We proceeded with a pre-emptive, image-guided embolization. The procedure was flawless. I came in for a tingling finger and left having avoided a potential catastrophe. Dr. Peker's genius lies in his extraordinary attention to detail. He looks for the hidden story the body is whispering, and he listens.