Assoc. Prof. M.D. Sevgi Topal

Our 3-year-old son, Arda, developed a mysterious high fever that wouldn't break for five days. Local clinics kept saying 'viral infection' but Dr. Sevgi Topal at Acibadem Altunizade noticed subtle neck stiffness others missed. She ordered specific tests immediately and diagnosed atypical Kawasaki disease. Her calm explanation to terrified parents, her coordination with the cardiology team for the IVIG treatment, and her daily 7 AM visits to check Arda's coronary arteries saved him from potential heart damage. She doesn't just treat children; she protects futures.

As a 68-year-old grandfather caring for my orphaned 7-year-old granddaughter, Elif, I brought her for what I thought was a simple school physical. Dr. Topal spent 45 minutes with us, noticing Elif's withdrawn behavior I'd attributed to grief. With incredible sensitivity, she uncovered school bullying and signs of nutritional neglect I was too overwhelmed to see. She connected us with a child psychologist, arranged a nutritionist consult, and gave me her direct line for 'grandparent emergencies.' She treated two patients that day—the child and the struggling caregiver.

Midnight emergency with my 6-month-old, Zeynep, turning blue during a coughing fit. The ER team stabilized her, but Dr. Topal arrived within 20 minutes despite not being on call. She diagnosed a rare tracheal web—a partial airway blockage missed since birth. What followed wasn't just surgery coordination; she created a color-coded breathing crisis plan for home, trained us in infant CPR specifically for her anatomy, and scheduled twilight video calls during her recovery to minimize hospital anxiety. She turned our terror into manageable protocol.

Follow-up visit for my 14-year-old athlete daughter, Deniz, whose 'growing pains' were worsening. Previous doctors dismissed it. Dr. Topal observed her walk from the waiting room, asked about her menstrual cycle (which had stopped), and ordered bone density scans. Diagnosis: female athlete triad exacerbated by overtraining. Her approach was revolutionary—instead of banning sports, she collaborated with Deniz's coach to redesign training, brought in a sports nutritionist, and framed recovery as 'performance optimization.' Deniz now views Dr. Topal as her health coach, not just a doctor.