A teacher donated her liver to save the life of a former student

When five-year-old Ezra Toczek of Alden, New York, struggled with complications from progressive liver disease, his former kindergarten teacher, Carissa Fisher, became an unlikely hero. The 21-year-old teacher and member of the United States Air Force selflessly donated part of her liver, giving Ezra a second chance at life. The life-saving transplant was performed by clinical teams at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone and the NYU Langone Transplant Institute.

On May 25, 2024, Carissa surprised the Toczek family by knocking on their door with a sign reading: “Ezra, would you like to share my liver?” A perfectly matched donor put her on a trajectory that saved Ezra’s life, and the successful transplant took place on August 7, 2024, at NYU Langone Health.

From foster care to family: Ezra’s early struggles with liver problems

In 2019, Karen and Ron Toczek welcomed Ezra, just 7 months old, into their home as a foster child. Ezra suffered severe liver damage at birth, which resulted in blocked bile ducts and impaired liver function. Pediatric surgeon Kaveh Vali, MD, of Buffalo, New York, referred Ezra to Adam Griesemer, MD, surgical director of the pediatric liver transplant program at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital and director of the living donor liver transplant program at NYU Langone, to explore potential solutions .

“I can’t imagine not spending this time with the nurses and doctors…his transplant team. It was truly amazing,” says Ezra’s mother, Karen.

Karen drove six hours to New York, where Dr. Griesemer performed surgery to reconstruct and open Ezra’s bile ducts, giving him several years of normal liver function. “We basically wanted to buy Ezra some time and let him grow up before considering a liver transplant,” Dr. Griesemer said. “It was never a question of if he would need a new liver, but when.”

Over time, Ezra became part of the large Toczek family, which consists of seven biological children and other foster children. In 2022, the couple officially adopted Ezra, a brave and much-loved member of their family and community.

Ezra’s hepatologist at Alden remained in close contact with Dr. Griesemer and Jennifer M. Vittorio, MD, medical director of the pediatric liver transplant program at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, to monitor and supervise the condition of Ezra’s liver as it continued to grow.

In February 2024, Ezra’s condition worsened and he was diagnosed with end-stage liver disease. Symptoms such as severe itching, liver scarring and fatigue made daily life difficult. “Ezra had trouble sleeping and, despite maximum medical treatments, was unable to function like a typical five-year-old. It was clear that we had to qualify him for a liver transplant,” said Dr. Vittorio.

The knock on the door that changed everything

Karen shared her son’s story on social media in hopes of finding a donor. “When it became a reality that Ezra needed a transplant, I couldn’t help but think, ‘How do I get this organ?’ “Ezra’s care team mentioned all the potential options, including a living donor, but it was very overwhelming for us at first,” Karen said.

Carissa, who had been Ezra’s kindergarten teacher many years earlier, saw the post and immediately felt called to help. Without notifying her family, she applied to donate part of her liver as part of the liver transplant program at the New York University Langone Transplant Institute. “I didn’t hesitate for a moment,” Carissa said. “If I was 5 years old, I would want someone to do it for me. I knew I could help and I was determined to do it.”

Carissa underwent a series of tests to confirm that she was a good candidate and that it would be safe for her to donate part of her liver. Tests showed it was a perfect fit.

Karen recalls that on the day she surprised the Toczek family with the news, “it took us by surprise and it took us a few moments to process what was happening. The relief of not having to wait for a donor list was an indescribable gift.”

A transplant that restored hope

On August 7, Carissa underwent minimally invasive robotic surgery at NYU Langone under the direction of Dr. Karim J. Halazun, surgical director of the Adult Liver Transplant Program, to harvest 30 percent of her liver for donation. “NYU Langone is one of the few transplant centers in the United States that can perform this type of procedure robotically,” Dr. Halazun explained. “Our state-of-the-art techniques enable donors to heal faster and return to normal life.”

Ezra’s transplant was successfully performed by Dr. Griesemer and pediatric transplant surgeon Bernardo Daniel Campos, MD. “We only need a small portion of Carissa’s liver for Ezra because it will grow with his body,” Dr. Griesemer said.

The liver is the only organ that can regenerate and heal over time. “It’s incredible that in just six months my liver has fully regrown,” Carissa said. “Not many people realize this.”

Despite some complications during his recovery, Ezra regained his vibrant personality. “His energy, mood and appetite returned almost immediately,” Karen said. During his recovery, Carissa was able to visit Ezra in the pediatric intensive care unit of Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, where she was greeted by his laughter, smiles and jokes.

Ezra developed a strong bond with his care team, including Certified Child Life Specialist Molly McClure and Pediatric Liver Transplant Social Worker Katie Sclafani, who helped provide emotional support during the process and recovery while ensuring a smooth transition home. These services are provided by the Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care.

A New Beginning and a Meeting at “Ezra’s Hospital”

On September 20, Ezra was discharged to the nearby Ronald McDonald House for continued care. On November 1, he returned home to his family. “Ezra has caught up in his development and is just an extraordinary child. The progress he has made is phenomenal,” Dr. Vittorio said.

Karen was so relieved to bring Ezra home. “He’s back at school, hanging out with his friends and playing with his siblings. He does everything he loves, and we know it will only get better from here. “He has big dreams and plans.”

On November 11, Ezra soon returned to Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital to meet with the multidisciplinary team that was caring for him, where he saw Carissa for the first time since the transplant. “Ezra loves seeing all his best friends at ‘his’ hospital,” Karen said. “He was sad to leave and certainly wasn’t afraid to come back.”

Molly McClure, child life specialist, added: “It’s our great joy to celebrate Ezra’s new beginning with his favorite things – dinosaurs and slime – and all the people along the way who helped and saved his life.”

Carissa and the Toczek family remain in close contact and look forward to watching Ezra continue to thrive through Carissa’s life-changing gift of organ donation. They hope their story will encourage others to consider becoming an organ donor.

“I am forever grateful to Carissa for giving Ezra the gift of life,” Karen said.

“The reward of knowing you helped someone in need is incredibly satisfying,” Carissa said. “I hope more people will consider becoming a donor. It’s a decision that can truly change lives.”