When 5-year-old Ezra Toczek from Alden, New York, confronted problems of progressive liver illness, his former daycare trainer, Carissa Fisher, turned an sudden hero. The 21-year-old trainer and member of the U.S. Air Power selflessly donated a portion of her liver, giving Ezra a second likelihood at life. The lifesaving transplant was carried out by scientific groups at Hassenfeld Youngsters’s Hospital at NYU Langone and the NYU Langone Transplant Institute.
On Might 25, 2024, Carissa stunned the Toczek household by knocking on their door with an indication that learn, “Ezra, would you prefer to share my liver?” The right donor match despatched her on a trajectory that will save Ezra’s life, with the profitable transplant going down August 7, 2024, at NYU Langone Well being.
From foster care to household: Ezra’s early struggles with liver challenges
In 2019, Karen and Ron Toczek welcomed Ezra, at simply 7 months outdated, into their residence as a foster youngster. Ezra suffered extreme liver injury at start, which induced bile duct blockages and impaired liver operate. Pediatric surgeon Kaveh Vali, MD, in Buffalo, New York, referred Ezra to Adam Griesemer, MD, surgical director of the Pediatric Liver Transplant Program at Hassenfeld Youngsters’s Hospital and director of NYU Langone’s Dwelling Donor Liver Transplant Program, to discover potential options.
“I can not think about not having had that point with the nurses and docs … his transplant group. It is simply been actually unbelievable,” says Ezra’s mother, Karen.
Karen drove six hours all the way down to New York Metropolis, the place Dr. Griesemer carried out a surgical process to reconstruct and open Ezra’s bile ducts, offering him with a number of years of regular liver operate. “We primarily needed to purchase Ezra a while and permit him develop earlier than contemplating a liver transplant,” mentioned Dr. Griesemer. “It was by no means a query of if he would want a brand new liver, however when.”
Over time, Ezra turned a part of the Toczeks’ massive household, which incorporates seven organic youngsters and different foster kids. In 2022, the couple formally adopted Ezra, a spunky and deeply cherished addition to their family and neighborhood.
Ezra’s hepatologist in Alden stayed in shut contact with Dr. Griesemer and Jennifer M. Vittorio, MD, medical director of the Pediatric Liver Transplant Program at Hassenfeld Youngsters’s Hospital, to watch and keep watch over Ezra’s liver situation as he continued to develop.
By February 2024, Ezra’s situation had worsened, and he was identified with end-stage liver illness. Signs resembling extreme itching, liver scarring, and fatigue made every day life tough. “Ezra was having bother sleeping and could not operate like a typical 5-year-old regardless of maximal medical therapies. It was clear that we would have liked to record him for a liver transplant,” mentioned Dr. Vittorio.
A knock on the door that modified every thing
Karen turned to social media to share her son’s story, hoping to discover a donor. “When it turned a actuality that Ezra wanted a transplant, I could not assist however suppose, ‘How are we going to get this organ?’ Ezra’s care group talked about all potential choices, together with a dwelling donor. But it surely was so overwhelming at first,” mentioned Karen.
Carissa, who had been Ezra’s daycare trainer years earlier than, noticed the publish and instantly felt referred to as to assist. With out notifying the household, she utilized to donate a portion of her liver by means of the Liver Transplant Program at NYU Langone’s Transplant Institute. “I did not hesitate for a second,” mentioned Carissa. “If I have been 5 years outdated, I would need somebody to do it for me. I knew I may assist, and I used to be decided to take action.”
Carissa underwent an array of assessments to verify she’d be candidate and that it might be protected for her to donate a portion of her liver. The assessments revealed she was an ideal match.
On the day she stunned the Toczek household with the information, Karen recalled, “it caught us off guard and it took a number of moments to course of what was occurring. The reduction of not ready on the donor record was a present past phrases.”
A transplant that restored hope
On August 7, Carissa underwent a minimally invasive robotic surgical procedure at NYU Langone, led by Karim J. Halazun, MD, surgical director of the Grownup Liver Transplant Program, to take away 30 % of her liver for donation. “NYU Langone is without doubt one of the few transplant facilities in america capable of carry out such a process robotically,” defined Dr. Halazun. “Our cutting-edge strategies permit donors to heal extra shortly and return to regular life.”
Ezra’s transplant was efficiently carried out by Dr. Griesemer and pediatric transplant surgeon Bernardo Daniel Campos, MD. “We solely want a small portion of Carissa’s liver for Ezra, as it should develop alongside together with his physique,” mentioned Dr. Griesemer.
The liver is the one organ that may regenerate and heal itself over time. “It is fairly unbelievable that in simply six months, my liver may have absolutely grown again,” mentioned Carissa. “Not many individuals notice that.”
Regardless of some problems throughout restoration, Ezra regained his full of life persona. “His power, temper, and urge for food returned virtually instantly,” mentioned Karen. Carissa was capable of go to Ezra within the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Hassenfeld Youngsters’s Hospital throughout restoration, the place she was greeted by his laughter, smiles, and jokes.
Ezra shaped sturdy bonds with the care group, together with licensed youngster life specialist Molly McClure and pediatric liver transplant social employee Katie Sclafani, who helped present emotional help throughout the course of and restoration whereas making certain a easy transition residence. These providers are offered by Sala Institute for Baby and Household Centered Care.
A brand new starting and reunion at “Ezra’s hospital”
By September 20, Ezra was discharged to a close-by Ronald McDonald Home to proceed follow-up care. On November 1, he returned residence to his household. “Ezra has caught up on his progress and improvement, and he is only a exceptional youngster. The progress he is made is phenomenal,” mentioned Dr. Vittorio.
Karen felt immense reduction after bringing Ezra residence. “He is again in school, hanging out with associates and taking part in together with his siblings. He is doing all of the issues he likes to do, and we all know it should solely get higher from right here. He has large goals and plans.”
Ezra shortly returned to Hassenfeld Youngsters’s Hospital on November 11 for a reunion with the multidisciplinary group that took care of him, the place he noticed Carissa for the primary time because the transplant. “Ezra loves seeing all his greatest associates at ‘his’ hospital,” mentioned Karen. “He was unhappy to go away and positively not afraid to return again.”
Molly McClure, the kid life specialist, added, “It brings us a lot pleasure to rejoice Ezra’s new starting together with his favourite issues—dinosaurs and slime—and with all of the individuals who helped and saved his life alongside the way in which.”
Carissa and the Toczek household keep in shut contact and sit up for seeing Ezra proceed to thrive, due to Carissa’s life-changing reward of organ donation. They hope their story encourages others to think about turning into organ donors.
“I’m eternally grateful to Carissa for giving Ezra this reward of life,” mentioned Karen.
“The reward of understanding you have helped somebody in want is extremely fulfilling,” mentioned Carissa. “I hope extra folks will contemplate turning into donors. It is a choice that may really change lives.”
