M.D. Arzu Jalilova

Our 14-year-old daughter, Elif, was diagnosed with Turner Syndrome at birth, but we struggled for years to find a specialist who could manage her complex care holistically. Dr. Arzu Jalilova at Acibadem Izmir Kent Hospital changed everything. She didn't just look at growth charts; she noticed Elif's subtle social anxieties and connected them to her condition. Dr. Jalilova coordinated with a cardiologist, a psychologist, and even our school counselor, creating a 'life plan' instead of just a treatment plan. During our last visit, she spent 45 minutes explaining puberty options in a way Elif could understand, using diagrams she drew herself. We're not just patients; we're partners in care. After 3 years with her, Elif's confidence has blossomed as much as her health has improved.

It was 2 AM when my 8-day-old grandson, Kaan, was rushed to Acibadem Izmir Kent with severe hypoglycemia and jitteriness. The on-call team was baffled until Dr. Jalilova arrived, her calm presence immediately filling the tense NICU room. She examined Kaan's subtle genitalia and asked specific questions about my daughter's pregnancy that others had missed. Within an hour, she suspected a rare form of Congenital Hyperinsulinism. What amazed us was how she explained the genetic implications to our panicked family using a whiteboard, drawing out enzyme pathways like a storyteller. She personally supervised the transfer to a specialized center in Ankara. Two months later, she still calls for updates. She didn't just save a baby; she saved our entire family from diagnostic purgatory.

As a 68-year-old grandmother with a lifelong history of Hashimoto's, I never expected to see a pediatric endocrinologist. But when my 10-year-old granddaughter, Sibel, started showing signs of early puberty during summer break, our family doctor referred us to Dr. Jalilova. The consultation was unlike any medical visit I've experienced. Dr. Jalilova examined Sibel's bone age scans while asking her about school, friends, and how she felt about her changing body—questions that made Sibel open up instead of clam up. She discovered a benign pituitary microadenoma that everyone else had missed because she actually compared old growth records we brought from home. Her treatment involved delaying medication, focusing first on nutritional therapy and sleep hygiene. She even gave me advice on adjusting my own levothyroxine dose! A doctor who treats the child and educates the whole family.

My 16-year-old son, Deniz, a competitive swimmer, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes six months ago. We'd seen three endocrinologists who gave us rigid insulin schedules that destroyed his training routine. Dr. Jalilova approached it completely differently. She asked for his training log, studied his carbohydrate timing during meets, and created a dynamic insulin protocol that adapted to his athletic life. She prescribed a continuous glucose monitor and taught him to interpret the data himself, calling it 'diabetes empowerment.' Last month, when Deniz qualified for nationals, Dr. Jalilova adjusted his basal rates for travel and time zone changes. She didn't see diabetes as a limitation but as a parameter to optimize. Now he's back in the pool, breaking personal records. She didn't just manage a disease; she preserved a dream.