Patient Experience
Our 16-year-old daughter, a nationally ranked swimmer, suddenly developed heart failure from viral myocarditis. As she deteriorated on ECMO, Dr. Ozer made the radical decision to implant a temporary ventricular assist device designed for adults, modifying it in the OR to fit her adolescent anatomy. This bridged her to recovery when transplant seemed inevitable. She's back in the pool, training for nationals. Dr. Ozer thinks in solutions when others see dead ends.
I'm a 67-year-old retired diplomat with a giant ascending aortic aneurysm discovered during a routine exam. Dr. Ozer performed a valve-sparing aortic root replacement using a technique he modified to preserve my native valve. His international experience meant he understood my need to travel extensively post-recovery. He created a portable monitoring system and global care network. I've since visited 12 countries with complete confidence in my heart.
My 5-year-old twins were both born with different congenital defects, one with tetralogy of Fallot, the other with complete AV canal. Dr. Ozer treated them as a single case study, performing their corrective surgeries six weeks apart while applying lessons from the first to optimize the second. His comparative approach shaved hours off the second surgery and improved outcomes. Having one surgeon understand both their unique hearts was a blessing.
As a 59-year-old mountain guide, I developed severe pulmonary hypertension from high-altitude exposure. My right heart was failing. Dr. Ozer collaborated with pulmonologists to create a combined treatment: pulmonary thromboendarterectomy followed by targeted drug therapy. He then designed an altitude acclimatization protocol. Last month, I guided a group to Everest Base Camp, monitored by the cardiac team he connected me with in Nepal. His vision transcends hospital walls.
During a humanitarian mission in Syria, I sustained shrapnel damage to my heart that went untreated for years. By the time I reached Dr. Ozer, I had a fist-sized pseudoaneurysm ready to rupture. He navigated scar tissue from the old trauma and foreign body remnants to reconstruct my ventricle. More remarkably, he connected me with psychological support for wartime trauma. He heals the emotional scars alongside the physical ones.
I was impressed by the professional approach at Medical Park Goztepe Hospital. Dr. Op. MD. Zubeyde Aytufan explained everything clearly and made me feel comfortable.
Our 3-week-old daughter, Elif, developed severe jaundice that wasn't responding to phototherapy. Dr. Ozkavakli suspected a rare biliary condition and performed a Kasai procedure within 48 hours. His calm explanation to terrified first-time parents and his meticulous follow-up, including creating a custom nutrition plan, saved her from needing a liver transplant. Two years later, she's thriving.
As expatriates from Norway, we were desperate when our 8-year-old son Lars was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis in Istanbul. Dr. Ozkavakli not only spoke flawless English but coordinated with our doctors back home, designing a hybrid treatment plan. His innovative use of a specific immunosuppressant protocol avoided steroids' side effects. Lars now plays football again.
My 14-year-old daughter, a competitive swimmer, suddenly developed acute liver failure from an unknown toxin. Dr. Ozkavakli led the crisis team, identifying it as a reaction to a herbal supplement. He managed her on a molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS) for 72 hours instead of immediate transplantation, a gutsy call that preserved her own liver. She returned to nationals six months later.
Our 6-month-old twin, Arda, was failing to thrive with an undiagnosed metabolic liver disease. Dr. Ozkavakli discovered a rare urea cycle disorder through advanced genetic testing he personally expedited. His creation of a precise formula with specific amino acid ratios, adjusted weekly via telemedicine for our rural home, transformed Arda. His twin brother is now also screened.
A 17-year-old aspiring pianist with Wilson's disease had debilitating neurological symptoms. Dr. Ozkavakli pioneered a slow chelation therapy combined with targeted zinc, avoiding the initial worsening often seen. He collaborated with a neurologist and physiotherapist, focusing on preserving fine motor skills. She performed her first recital post-diagnosis last month.
When our 5-year-old, Mira, needed a living-donor liver transplant from her father, Dr. Ozkavakli's approach was holistic. He prepared her psychologically through play therapy in his office and used a novel 3D-printed model of both livers to explain the surgery. His post-op pain management protocol, minimizing opioids, led to a remarkably smooth recovery.
Our newborn, Kaan, was transferred emergently with neonatal hemochromatosis, a condition often fatal. Dr. Ozkavakli initiated an aggressive double-volume exchange transfusion followed by immunoglobulin, a protocol he adapted from recent research. He slept in the hospital for three nights monitoring him. Kaan is now a healthy toddler with normal iron levels.
A 12-year-old refugee boy from Syria presented with advanced liver cirrhosis from chronic hepatitis B, untreated due to war. Dr. Ozkavakli secured medication through a humanitarian program, provided free follow-ups, and connected the family with social services. His focus on the family's trauma, not just the disease, changed their entire trajectory in Turkey.
My 10-year-old son had mysterious recurrent cholangitis. Multiple doctors missed it. Dr. Ozkavakli, reviewing a years-old MRI, spotted Caroli's disease. He performed a revolutionary endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with balloon dilation specifically for a child, avoiding major surgery. The chronic pain that plagued my son's childhood is gone.
A 2-year-old with Alagille syndrome suffered from severe pruritus, scratching until she bled. Dr. Ozkavakli enrolled her in a compassionate-use program for a novel ileal bile acid transporter inhibitor, long before its local approval. He combined it with a tailored skin care regimen. For the first time in her life, she sleeps through the night without scratching.
Our teenage daughter's liver tumors (FNH) were deemed inoperable elsewhere. Dr. Ozkavakli brought in an interventional radiologist for targeted embolization, shrinking them by 70%. He then advocated for her during a medical school entrance exam, securing extra break time for fatigue. She starts medical school next year, inspired by him.
A 7-year-old with cystic fibrosis had developing cirrhosis. Dr. Ozkavakli established a unique co-management clinic with her pulmonologist, synchronizing treatments to reduce hospital visits. He introduced a non-invasive elastography protocol for frequent monitoring, replacing many biopsies. Her liver health is now stable, letting her focus on lung therapy.
When my infant son was diagnosed with biliary atresia, Dr. Ozkavakli drew a simple timeline on a napkin: 'Kasai now, possible transplant later, full life always.' That clarity cut through our panic. His 24/7 WhatsApp availability for worried parents and his celebratory photo with us on discharge day showed a doctor who truly partners with families.
The recovery process was smooth thanks to Dr. Op. MD. Zubeyde Aytufan's expertise. Highly recommend for obstetrics and gynaecology treatment.