Tom Haberland’s Journey to a Liver Transplant

We are here as family, friends, and a community to ask for your help for someone who has been there for countless others in their time of need. Tom Haberland is a proud community member, living in the Capital Region his entire life, and a well-respected businessman, as the owner and operator of NE Tree and Property Service. He is always there to lend a hand to family, friends, and fellow business owners, helping the growth of many of those businesses. Kind, caring, and generous are just a few of the traits Tommy embodies. To call him hard-working would be an understatement. But above all, Tom is the most devoted family man one could ask for. The love he has for his wife Stacey, and beautiful daughter Lexi is truly something to be admired.

On June 22nd, Tommy suffered a horrible accident while completing a tree job. The accident resulted in him shattering his femur. Tom underwent surgery where a rod and extensive hardware were placed to reconstruct his leg. In order for Tom to take the time necessary for his body to heal, Stacey worked tirelessly to make sure NE Tree and Property Service continued to run.

Tom continued to recover, and complete physical therapy to meet the physical demands of his profession. Although Tom’s leg was healing, his body began to fail him. After multiple hospital stays, and months of unanswered questions, Tom was transferred to New York Presbyterian. He received the diagnosis of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC). PSC is a chronic liver disease in which the bile ducts inside and outside the liver become inflamed and scarred, eventually becoming completely blocked. This causes bile to back up into the liver, causing extensive liver damage, progressing to liver failure in Tom’s case. It was determined that Tom would need to undergo a liver transplant. After reviewing Tom’s case, he was placed on the UNOS transplant list. Tom was told that his best chance would be to match with a living donor. And that is where the Haberland Family really shines!

Family members stepped up to the plate and began the process of determining if they would be a match. In the end, Carissa, Tom’s cousin was found to be a match! Carissa works full-time as a licensed veterinary technician, managing Shaker Animal Hospital in Latham, NY. She is a mom to her amazing daughter, Molly. Carissa is a true inspiration, selflessly becoming Tom’s donor.

This Go Fund Me is being organized to support both Tom and Carissa through the entire process of their transplant journey. They both have a long road to recovery after the transplant surgery takes place.

Because the surgery will take place at NY Presbyterian, we are hoping donations will be used for travel, housing, food and medical expenses not covered by insurance, and general living expenses due to the long recovery and the extended stay in NYC in order to be close to the hospital, for both donor and recipient.

We cannot thank you enough for taking the time to read Tom’s story, and considering donating to his cause.