Dr. Eda Albayrak

Our 87-year-old grandfather, Mehmet, was admitted with what seemed like a severe flu, but his confusion had us terrified. Dr. Albayrak was technically assigned to pediatrics, but when no internist was available, she stepped in without hesitation. She spent an hour reviewing his complex medication list, noticing a dangerous interaction his regular doctor had missed. Her gentle, patient manner calmed him completely—she spoke to him like he was a cherished elder, not just a case. She coordinated with cardiology and adjusted his treatment. He calls her 'the little doctor with the big heart.' We never expected such comprehensive, cross-disciplinary care from a pediatrician in an emergency.

Our 3-year-old, Elif, was born with a rare lymphatic malformation on her neck. After three failed procedures elsewhere, we came to Dr. Eda as a last resort. This wasn't a routine checkup; it was a complex, multi-stage surgical planning process. She didn't just look at the MRI; she got on the floor with Elif to see how the mass moved when she laughed and cried. Her approach was holistic—she collaborated with a speech therapist and a child psychologist pre-op, concerned about trauma. The surgery was a success, but what we remember most is her post-op follow-up: she video-called us every evening for a week, just to see Elif's smile and check for pain cues we might miss. She treated the child, not the condition.

We brought our 10-year-old son, Can, for a standard sports physical. Dr. Albayrak noticed a slight asymmetry in his shoulder blades during the exam—something every other doctor had missed for years. With gentle probing, she discovered he'd been hiding mild chest pain during swimming. She transformed a 15-minute routine visit into a detective case, ordering a specific echocardiogram that revealed a previously undetected, mild aortic root dilation. Her style was calm but fiercely thorough. She didn't cause panic; she drew diagrams to explain it to Can, calling it 'making sure his engine's pipes are perfect for racing.' She managed a potentially serious cardiac finding during a well-child visit with incredible poise and clarity.

Our newborn, Zeynep, was transferred to Acibadem NICU with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia—a terrifying diagnosis. Dr. Albayrak wasn't the lead surgeon, but she became our medical translator and emotional anchor. While surgeons focused on the repair, she focused on Zeynep's pain management and our paralyzing fear. She used a unique method: she created a simple daily 'milestone chart' for us, marking tiny wins ('first self-breath for 30 seconds'). Her nightly updates were not just clinical; she'd describe how Zeynep gripped her finger, framing strength in the smallest details. Two years later, at a follow-up, she remembered the exact date of Zeynep's first extubation and brought a small toy to celebrate its 'anniversary.' Her care blended intensive crisis management with profound, long-term memory for her patients' journeys.