Friendship forged at Ivey leads to lifesaving living organ transplant

Friendships forged at Ivey are unique, but neither of these alumni would have guessed theirs would lead to the incredible journey of a lifesaving living organ transplant.

In 2007, Brandon Gerson, MBA ’10, was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and eventual scarring of the bile ducts that run through the liver. While there are no long-lasting treatments, his condition progressed slowly. So, when he met Susan Anderson (née Wiens), MBA ’10, at pre-Ivey, she was unaware of his health challenges, and would remain unaware for many more years. 

“I never talked about it because I felt fine,” Brandon says. “I didn’t want it to define me.”

Brandon and Susan shared many memorable experiences during their MBA, including participation in the Ivey LEADER Program abroad and the China Study trip. However, the foundation of their friendship was set during the hours spent at the Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre. “What was most formative in our friendship was being on the same Ivey Consulting Project team,” recalls Susan. “Our team had a ton of fun in our working sessions.”

The team stayed in touch after graduation, travelling together and celebrating each other’s milestones. “Brandon and his family were actually the last family we socialized with before the pandemic,” Susan says.

During 2021, Brandon’s health took a sudden turn. “One day I was on the exercise bike making a new personal best and the next day I was in the hospital,” he says. By February 2022, Brandon’s doctors had waitlisted him for a liver transplant, telling him his best chance of survival was to find a living donor.

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Brandon’s family reached out to a small group of relatives and friends asking them to consider partaking in this lifesaving procedure. “Susan wrote back within minutes saying she was going to apply,” he says. “She was fearless.”

Susan also leveraged her position as Ivey alumni class liaison to expand the search. After five months of testing for a suitable match, and on Brandon’s daughter’s sixth birthday, Susan shared the news that she was approved as his donor. 

On August 10, 2022, at Toronto General Hospital, Susan donated part of her liver to Brandon.

As soon as he awoke from surgery, Brandon felt – and looked – like a different person. “All of my horrible symptoms were gone,” he says.

Susan was back at home after only four days and resumed regular activities shortly after.

“I feel so privileged to have had this experience,” she says. “Beyond the positive impact on my friend’s health, there were additional benefits, including renewed connections with our classmates and new connections with so many of Brandon’s friends and family in countries across the globe.”

Both Susan and Brandon hope their story inspires others to consider becoming an organ donor.

To learn more about organ donation in Canada, visit www.beadonor.ca and www.greatactions.ca 

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Nicole Laidler is a freelance reporter, copywriter and content creator, serving clients in London, Toronto and throughout Southwestern Ontario. She helps people grow their success, one word at a time.