From Breathlessness to a Clearer Heart Health Plan: Saa Lawrence’s Journey in Turkey

For Saa Lawrence, a 56-year-old man from Sierra Leone, travelling to Turkey began with a simple goal: to undergo a comprehensive health check-up. However, what started as a preventive health evaluation became an important step in understanding symptoms that had been affecting his daily life.

Saa had been experiencing breathlessness and chest pain, prompting him to seek medical attention. After learning about medical care in Turkey through a recommendation from a previous patient, he decided to travel for further evaluation.

His journey took him to Medical Park Istanbul, where he underwent a detailed cardiac assessment with Prof. Dr. Hediye Dagdeviren, MD. What began as a health check-up ultimately identified a cardiac condition requiring further treatment consideration.

Seeking Answers for Breathlessness and Chest Pain

Breathlessness and chest pain can have many causes, but when they occur together, a cardiac evaluation can be especially important. For Saa, these symptoms were among the reasons he sought a comprehensive health assessment.

Rather than focusing only on individual symptoms, the health check-up provided an opportunity to evaluate his overall health and investigate the underlying cause. Travelling abroad for a health check-up also gave him access to specialist evaluation and diagnostic facilities in Turkey.

A Health Check-Up That Led to Further Cardiac Evaluation

Saa travelled to Turkey on June 29, 2026, for his medical evaluation at Medical Park Istanbul on the recommendation of Arhama, his case manager. During the health check-up, the medical team identified a cardiac concern that required further attention.

Following his evaluation, he was advised to undergo treatment for a chronic total occlusion (CTO) with stent placement. A CTO refers to a coronary artery that has been completely blocked for an extended period.

Depending on the patient's condition and the blockage's characteristics, treatment may involve a specialised procedure to reopen the artery, sometimes followed by stent placement to help maintain blood flow. For Saa, the recommendation marked an important shift in his medical journey, from routine screening to addressing a significant cardiac finding.

Following his evaluation, Saa was advised to undergo CTO treatment with stent placement.

The recommendation meant his health check-up did more than routine screening; it helped identify a cardiac issue that warranted specialist attention.

From Screening to Specialist Care

One of the most valuable aspects of Saa's journey was the opportunity to investigate his symptoms through a structured health evaluation. A comprehensive health check-up can identify health concerns that might otherwise go undetected, especially when symptoms are attributed to less serious causes.

In Saa's case, his breathlessness and chest pain prompted a closer look at his cardiovascular health. The evaluation led to a recommendation for further cardiac treatment. His experience highlights why persistent or unexplained symptoms should not be ignored and why timely medical evaluation matters.

A Successful Medical Journey

Saa's case was recorded as a completed and successful medical journey, with no complications or additional issues reported. The most significant outcome was identifying a cardiac concern during his health check-up and developing a treatment recommendation for CTO with stent placement.

His story demonstrates how a health check-up can sometimes become the starting point for more focused medical care. What begins as a routine assessment may reveal a condition that requires specialist evaluation and timely attention.

From Health Check-Up to Cardiac Care

Saa Lawrence travelled from Sierra Leone to Turkey seeking a comprehensive health check-up through MediGence. During his evaluation at Medical Park Istanbul, his symptoms of breathlessness and chest pain led to further cardiac assessment.

The evaluation identified a significant cardiac concern, and he was advised to undergo CTO treatment with stent placement. His journey was completed successfully, with no complications reported. What began as a routine health check-up ultimately became an important opportunity to identify a cardiac issue and establish a clearer direction for further treatment.

For Saa, the journey was not simply about travelling abroad for a medical check-up. It was about listening to his body, seeking specialist evaluation, and taking an important step toward better heart health.