For one family, an unexpected gift came from someone they never would have thought to ask for help from. And it made the gift all the more special.
Five-year-old Ezra Toczek, who has been battling liver damage since birth, is about to receive the ultimate gift from a surprising source — his former preschool teacher, Carissa Fisher. Ezra, recently diagnosed with end-stage liver disease, has been on the transplant list since February, hoping for a life-saving liver transplant.
In March, Carissa Fisher learned about Ezra’s dire condition. Without informing the Toczek family, she decided to apply as a living donor. A living-donor liver transplant, according to the Mayo Clinic, involves a healthy individual donating a portion of their liver to someone whose liver no longer functions properly. After hearing about Ezra’s condition, Fisher felt compelled to help.
Ezra and his mother, Karen, traveled from Western New York to New York City in January, where doctors confirmed his urgent need for a transplant. By February, Ezra was officially placed on the transplant list, but the family faced an agonizing wait for updates.
Ezra Toczek and his mother, Karen. Photo courtesy of GoFundMe
Unbeknownst to them, Fisher was working behind the scenes to become a donor. She applied traveled to New York City for the necessary testing. After weeks of waiting, Fisher received the news that she had been approved to donate a portion of her liver to Ezra. The next day, Fisher rushed to the Toczek family’s home, bearing a stuffed animal, balloons, and a sign announcing the joyous news.
“We are completely overwhelmed with her kindness and generosity and sacrifice, and it keeps hitting us unexpectedly that it’s really happening and we’re really going to be able to move forward, and we’re so grateful,” Karen Toczek said. Karen explained that there are no set dates for the transplant yet because Fisher must undergo a two-week reflection period before the donor team can schedule the surgery. Despite the challenges, Karen remains hopeful.
“Ezra is hanging in there,” she said. “We are very fortunate that they were able to get him approved to be listed when they did, rather than waiting until he’s critically ill. He has struggles, fatigue, sleep difficulties, and days where he just isn’t feeling well, but overall he is a trooper and finds joy every day.”
Ezra Toczek. Photo courtesy of GoFundMe
After Fisher’s visit, Karen shared the news on Facebook, expressing her immense gratitude. “My brain literally couldn’t process what I was reading until she said it out loud. Miss Carissa is a perfect match! I can’t even begin to express our gratitude!” she wrote. She added, “The tears keep coming, and though I knew we’d be relieved to get the news eventually, I had no idea just how it would hit me! There has been no shortage of love, generosity, and genuine kindness from our family, friends, and community—but this? The most amazing gift!” Fisher echoed these sentiments in her own words.
You never know whose life you are going to be changing. It was emotional. It made me very happy to see both of them happy.”
Karen updated the family’s GoFundMe page with the exciting news, thanking everyone for their continued support. “We have a long road ahead of us, and it’s getting real now,” she noted. Fisher also launched a separate GoFundMe to cover her own travel and lodging expenses for the donation process.
The Toczek family remains hopeful that the transplant will take place later this summer, allowing Ezra to move forward with a healthier future. This incredible act of kindness from a former teacher underscores the powerful impact one person can have on another’s life. To help the families, follow these links to their GoFundMe pages:
