05/14/2017  Animal was accidentally caught by a fisherman and swallowed a large j-hook.  Turtle was transported to Mote for hook removal.  Radiographs revealed the large hook was hooked through the esophagus.  Blood work revealed that the animal was very anemic.  Also, Patti was covered in a heavy amount of barnacles and algae indicating it may have been sick prior to ingesting the fishing hook.

05/15/2017  Mote's veterinarian sedated Patti and surgically removed the hook via an incision into the neck and esophagus.  Animal recovered well and was dry-docked overnight.

05/16/2017  Patti was relocated to a rehab. tank at full depth.  Animal is feisty when handled, but refuses all food offered.  Patti is receiving subcutaneous fluids daily and injectable antibiotics until eating on her own.

05/23/2017  Patti ate some herring off feeding tongs!

06/01/2017  Patti is now foraging all food offered.  She was switched from injectable antibiotics to oral antibiotics because she is eating so well.

06/16/2017  Animal continues to eat well and gain weight.  She is much more active.  She is still anemic, so an oral iron supplement was added to her treatment protocol.

07/03/2017  Animal's white blood cell count has decreased to a more normal level, so antibiotics were discontinued.  

08/03/2017  Patti is clinically doing well, but anemia is still present and slowly resolving.

08/30/2017  Patti was released at Lido Beach today by Mote staff and interns!