Renee and the late Larry Garrett

Their own heart problems led them to answer the challenge.

The late Larry Garrett had a daily reminder of the need for open heart services, because of his own critical heart problems. Larry and Renee had a passion and desire to see the community have the best healthcare in Gwinnett County.  This led them to donate $100,000 to the Gwinnett Medical Center Foundation to support open heart services.

“I have been fortunate to have provided healthcare to Mr. and Mrs. Garrett for many years,” says Manfred Sandler, M.D., cardiologist and Gwinnett Medical Center Foundation board chair. “It is wonderful to see gracious patients giving back to Gwinnett Medical Center in appreciation of the services they have been provided.”

Larry was a patient at Gwinnett Medical Center, but for every heart procedure he had to be taken to Atlanta.

“We need our own heart program,” Renee says. “Just like we needed a new hospital (GMC–Duluth) and we got it. We owe ourselves a heart program.”