Doctors discovered something they never expected inside a 92-year-old woman’s body.
In February 2025, Şerife Ay from Zonguldak, Turkey, was rushed to the hospital after suffering severe abdominal pain. Doctors quickly performed imaging tests and found a serious 4-centimeter blockage in her intestine. The condition had already caused significant damage and required immediate emergency surgery.
But during the two-hour operation, surgeons made an astonishing discovery.
They removed 35 olive pits, 28 date seeds, and five large hardened masses called bezoars from her digestive system. Bezoars can form when indigestible materials accumulate and become tightly packed inside the body over time.
According to reports, Ay had developed a long-standing habit of swallowing olive pits and date seeds because she believed they were good for her health.
After the surgery, she spent five days in intensive care while doctors closely monitored her recovery. Thankfully, surgeons were able to repair the damaged intestine, and she eventually made a full recovery.
Her shocking case serves as an important reminder: natural food does not mean every part of it is safe to swallow.