M.D. Shabnam Islamova

My 82-year-old father, Ahmet, fell in the garden and fractured his hip. The ambulance brought him to Acibadem Atakent's ER in immense pain. Dr. Islamova was like a calm commander in the storm. She didn't just see an elderly patient; she saw *him*. She explained the complex surgery (a partial hip replacement) to us in simple terms, but also knelt by his gurney, held his hand, and spoke directly to him about getting him back to his rose bushes. Her team moved with urgent precision. Post-surgery, her follow-up was relentless—checking for infection, managing his pain meds perfectly, and coordinating with physio. He's walking with a cane now, and his first trip outside was to check his roses. We didn't just get a surgeon; we got a guardian angel for our father.

It was 2 AM when our 5-year-old, Elif, spiked a terrifying fever of 40°C and had a febrile seizure. Pure panic. The ER was chaotic, but Dr. Shabnam Islamova had this intense, focused energy. She swooped in, assessed Elif with lightning speed, and immediately started cooling protocols. What struck me wasn't just her medical skill—it was how she handled *us*. She spoke softly but firmly, 'I need you to breathe for her. Watch me help her.' She ruled out meningitis with efficient tests, all while explaining each step. She didn't dismiss our fear as hysterical parents; she incorporated us into the care team. By dawn, Elif was sleeping peacefully, hydrated, and the fever broke. Dr. Islamova followed up at 10 AM on her own, just to check. She turned our worst night into a story of incredible competence and human compassion.

I'm a long-distance runner, and what I thought was a routine ankle sprain from a trail run became a nightmare of escalating pain. At a routine check-up elsewhere, it was dismissed. The pain became debilitating. I came to Dr. Islamova as a last resort. She listened to my entire history—the initial injury, the failed rest, the creeping instability. She ordered a specific dynamic ultrasound others hadn't. Diagnosis: a complex syndesmotic injury (high ankle sprain) with latent ligament damage. No one else had looked that deep. Her treatment plan wasn't just 'rest and ice.' It was a phased blueprint: precise immobilization, a very specific rehab protocol she designed with a sports physio, and nutritional advice to support ligament healing. She treated me like an athlete, not just a patient. I'm back running now, stronger. She solved a puzzle others refused to see.

My husband, a construction foreman, was brought in after a steel beam glanced off his helmet. He was conscious but confused, with a deep scalp laceration. Trauma protocol was activated. Dr. Islamova's demeanor was completely different here—crisp, directive, a master of controlled urgency. She simultaneously managed his wound (which required complex layered sutures to avoid scarring on his forehead) while assessing for a potential concussion and cervical spine injury. She barked orders to her team but would then turn to me and translate: 'We're stitching him now, but we're more concerned about his brain. We're doing a CT to be sure.' It was this perfect balance of brutal efficiency and compassionate communication. She ruled out serious neuro trauma, closed the wound with what looks like plastic surgery, and gave us a very clear 'red flag' list for home monitoring. She managed a multi-system trauma with the focus of a general and the care of a healer.