91ÒùĸÊÓƵ

Dr. David Collister, a recipient of the Gusse family's nephrology funding, shows their family how to perform an ultrasound.

When Larry Gusse went into near-fatal kidney failure five years ago, his daughter Natalie Ruhl didn’t hesitate to offer him one of her own. Doctors estimated a seven-year wait for a public donor — time he likely didn’t have. 

“To me, the math just didn’t make sense to wait that long,” says Natalie, a mother of four. “I felt very motivated to donate a kidney to him.”

Thanks to Natalie’s gift, Larry is back at work part-time, volunteers with his church and spends time with nine grandchildren. But their story didn’t end there. The Gusse family’s journey inspired them to invest in hope for others — through generous support of kidney research and innovation at the 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ.

After Larry’s recovery, the family gave $500,000 to support four new nephrology research projects and . They’ve also pledged $1 million to support the new AI + Health Hub, “using data to improve health and wellness”— an approach close to their hearts after Larry’s experience.

“It’s a tough life for those with kidney failure or kidney disease,” says , a nephrologist and dean of both the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry and the College of Health Sciences. “It affects so many parts of your life, from your energy levels to what you eat every day to the activities you do.”

“Seeing that impact of kidney disease has motivated the Gusse family to make it better for other patients.”

The spirit of giving runs deep in their family. Both Natalie and Larry’s first memories of giving are as young kids placing a few coins from their allowance into the basket at church, and Natalie’s great-grandfather supported Filipino schools in honour of the nurses who cared for his wife. That early generosity eventually led to the creation of the Henry Gusse Foundation, which now donates $1 million annually to causes including medical research.

Larry is now CEO of the family business, Edmonton Exchanger, which has employed more than 28,000 people since it opened . Natalie, her brother Tim and their spouses — all U of A grads — are part of the company’s leadership.

Today, Larry lives with three kidneys and Natalie with one, and both follow a health-focused lifestyle. They are also passionate advocates for early detection of kidney disease — especially for people with chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure.

“I didn’t listen to my body until I was 48 hours away from death,” Larry, 67, points out. “By the time I went to the doctor, I had next to no energy left to get through my day.”

Now, the Gusse family is using their story to shape a healthier future for others.

“Our goal is to improve kidney care in 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ,” Natalie says. “We want to make a difference so others do not have to go through what we have gone through.”