19/09/2024
"A call I never thought I’d receive..."
One day, I was contacted about a dolphin named Sergei, who was suffering from severe gastrointestinal issues - vomiting and showing signs of distress. Sergei had been brought all the way from Sharm El Sheikh to Hurghada for one reason: to receive help from a human doctor. I was amazed by the trust placed in me to take care of this incredible animal.
Upon Sergei’s arrival, I immediately prepared for what would become one of the most unique procedures of my career. As I inserted the endoscopy unit into Sergei's stomach, I was struck by how similar his internal structure was to that of a human's. Despite having three stomach chambers compared to our one, the overall anatomy was more alike than I could have imagined.
Then, as I maneuvered the endoscope further, something caught my eye - something red that clearly didn’t belong there. I brought out my tools and carefully removed the object. To my surprise, it was a swimming ring. Sergei had swallowed it whole.
Without anesthesia, Sergei remained incredibly still, almost as if he knew I was helping him. After removing the first ring, I decided to double-check, just to be sure. I repeated the procedure, and to my amazement, found another ring! Once again, I carefully extracted it, and Sergei seemed even more relieved.
But I couldn’t shake the feeling that there might be more. So, I went in a third time, and sure enough - another ring. After finally confirming there were no more obstructions, Sergei’s relief was undeniable. The procedure was complete after 5 hours and he was visibly more comfortable.
Today, Sergei is 30 years old and still going strong. Dolphins, as we know, have extraordinary memories. I’m hopeful that one day soon, I’ll be able to visit him again for a follow-up check, and I’m sure he’ll remember me.
