As dawn broke over the shoreline, Miss Sayé Yabandeh sat quietly in meditation, soaking in the stillness before sunrise. When she finally stood to leave, something inside her urged her to stop — and turn around.
That’s when she saw it.
Half-buried in a tangled heap of seaweed was a small, shapeless blob. When Yabandeh moved closer, her heart caught — it wasn’t just seaweed. It was a baby sea turtle, struggling to survive.
“Something told me to turn around, just to see you, baby,” she later said in a TikTok video documenting the moment.
The tiny turtle was barely moving, weak and covered in sand. Gently, Yabandeh scooped him up and cradled him in her hands. Step by step, she began walking toward the ocean, hoping the little one would feel the call of the sea.
“Typically, newly hatched turtles make their long journey to the water at sunrise,” explained Bonnie Mai, a representative for Yabandeh. “But on this day, thick seaweed trapped the hatchling — and a seaweed tractor was soon to arrive, posing a deadly risk.”
As Yabandeh waded into the shallows, the baby began to stir. His tiny flippers started to move — slowly at first, then with purpose. She carried him past the dense seaweed, making sure he had a clear path ahead.
When the moment felt right, she knelt in the surf and lowered her hands.
The baby sea turtle took off, paddling strongly toward the horizon.
“The experience was a beautiful testament to interspecies connection and healing,” Mai said. “Afterward, Miss Sayé stayed on the beach to meditate, sending gratitude and healing energy to the ocean — honoring the sacred cycle of life.”
For Yabandeh, it was more than a rescue — it was a reminder of the quiet power of intuition, compassion, and connection between all living beings.
You can follow Miss Sayé Yabandeh on Instagram to see more of her inspiring work and ocean adventures.
