PARSIPPANY — A Parsippany-Troy Hills resident is asking for the public’s help finding a living liver donor after being diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder that has led to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Chris Mazzarella was diagnosed with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (A1AT), a rare genetic condition that causes cirrhosis and has progressed to hepatocellular carcinoma, a form of liver cancer. After consulting with his medical team, Mazzarella has been told that a liver transplant offers his best chance for long-term survival.
Mazzarella is being treated at NYU Langone, one of the nation’s leading transplant centers, and is now searching for a living liver donor to move forward with the procedure.
Living liver donation allows part of a healthy donor’s liver to be transplanted into a recipient. Because the liver is capable of regenerating, both the donor’s and recipient’s livers typically grow back to a normal, functioning size over time. Prospective donors undergo an extensive medical evaluation before being approved, and inquiring about donation carries no obligation to proceed.
Mazzarella, who has kept his diagnosis largely private until now, said he made the decision to go public in hopes that a wider audience might connect him with a match.
“I never imagined I’d have to ask for something like this,” he said. “But I’ve learned that hope often begins with simply asking.”
Those interested in learning more about becoming a living liver donor for Mazzarella can contact NYU Langone’s Living Liver Donor Team directly:
- Phone: (212) 263-8133, Option 4
- Email: [email protected]
- Online: redcap.link/nyuliverdonor
Community members who are unable to donate are encouraged to share Mazzarella’s story, which he says could help it reach a potential match.
