Dr. Fatmanur Yildirim

After my 78-year-old mother's hip replacement, she was in terrible pain and couldn't walk. Dr. Fatmanur didn't just prescribe pills—she created a whole ecosystem of recovery. She personally demonstrated exercises to our home caregiver, designed a kitchen-counter-height therapy routine, and even recommended specific Turkish music for rhythmic movement therapy. Within three weeks, mom was making çay in the kitchen again. This wasn't just rehabilitation; it was cultural competence meeting medical excellence.

My 8-year-old son developed severe scoliosis that progressed rapidly during lockdown. Other doctors immediately suggested bracing. Dr. Fatmanur spent an entire appointment watching him play with Legos, noticing how he favored one side. Her approach was revolutionary: she prescribed swimming in the Aegean Sea (with specific stroke techniques), designed a video game-based posture correction program, and collaborated with his school to modify his desk. The curve improved 15 degrees in six months without a brace. She treats the child, not just the spine.

I'm a professional violinist who developed focal dystonia in my left hand—a career-ending diagnosis. Dr. Yildirim approached it like a detective mystery. She used EMG biofeedback while I played scales, discovered compensatory patterns in my shoulder, and created a rehabilitation protocol that mirrored musical phrasing. She consulted with a music professor at İstanbul University to understand the physical demands of my repertoire. I'm now back with the Istanbul State Symphony. She saved my art when everyone said to change professions.

Following a complex multi-vehicle accident, I had traumatic brain injury with left-side hemiparesis. Dr. Fatmanur's approach was uniquely holistic: she coordinated with neurologists while implementing mirror therapy using traditional Turkish shadow puppetry (Karagöz) to stimulate neural pathways. She incorporated thermal therapy from the hospital's hamam-inspired hydrotherapy unit and designed a balance protocol using uneven cobblestone simulations of Istanbul's historic districts. My recovery exceeded all predictions—I'm not just walking, I'm hiking again. She engineers recovery where others see only limitations.