My name is Renee A. Gibbs, Co-Founder, President  and CEO of the Heartbeat Foundation, Inc.  I started the  foundation because I am the recipient of a double lung and  heart.  I had the support of my family and friends throughout  pre- and post-transplant which was a very difficult time.   Prior to my transplant, I joined a Facebook group and  discovered that there are so many people on the transplant list or who have been approved for transplant and are waiting  that don’t have the kind of support that I had. 
Without support, approval for transplant can be denied.  Three years after transplant, I began meeting with patients and  counseling them on what I went through, helping them with  things like health needs, manicures, pedicures, hair services,  transportation and even food using my own resources.   After  providing these services, I realized that starting a foundation  would help me to provide services to a wider range of pre- and  post-transplant patients.  Because I was blessed to have a lot of  support, it is my mission to pay it forward and give back to the  patients that I know best.