Molly
Patient Report
Name: Molly
Species: Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Weight: 170 lbs.
Reason for visit: Entanglement and Fibropapillomas (FP)
Location found: Stock Island
Status Report
- 8/9/2025 Meet Molly, a loggerhead sea turtle that was rescued in the lower keys and admitted to The Turtle Hospital. Molly was found entangled in trap line and fishing line of Stock Island in the Florida Keys she was attached to an abandoned crab trap when rescuers spotted her. Encrusted in barnacles with heavy tumor load, Molly’s blood levels are critically low. She has received fluid treatment, antibiotics, vitamins, and pressure wrap on the large tumor o control bleeding.
- 8/12/2025 Molly Scheduled for surgery! This evening molly went into surgery with Dr. Terry Norton and our rehabilitation team to remove a large tumor on her front left flipper. The surgical team successfully removed the ginormous tumor in a three-hour surgery and is now in better condition!
- 8/13/2025 Molly has been doing well post-surgery, she has been eating a good amount mackerel, some squid, and munched on some lobster this evening! Molly has a long road in recovering and we are hoping for her immune system to be strong. Once her blood levels are built up Molly will get the rest of her tumors removed.
- 8/20/2025 Molly has been gliding easier in the water in her rehab tank at The Turtle Hospital, she’s been feeling lighter after her barnacle and ginormous tumor removal surgery.
- 8/27/2025 Molly’s PVC (blood packed cell value) have increased. We are not just waiting for blood values to increase so we can begin with some more tumor surgeries. Molly’s diet has also been increased to help increase blood values and she is officially weighting 170lbs now! YAY MOLLY!!!
- 9/3/2025 Today Molly had some exams with Dr. Terry and as usual was her excited feisty self she had her stiches removed from her front left flipper where her past ginormous tumor has been removed from surgery, Her PVC levels have been increasing! She also received an oral exam and some wound care on her carapace (shell) to disinfect areas where barnacles have been removed- This step is crucial, as barnacle removal can leave behind raw or irritated patches that are vulnerable to infection if not properly treated so we disinfect to keep bacteria away and our turtles shells healthy- and Molly was estimated to be 25-30 years old!
- 9/24/2025 Molly was scheduled for some more fibropapilloma tumor surgeries! Dr. Terry and our rehabilitation team successfully removed tumors from Molly’s neck, inguinal area, eyes and is now recovering well in her tank after surgery. GO MOLLY!!!
Molly Photos
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