Celebrating 24 Years of Healing Little Hearts

Prema and Jyoti Sagar lost their second-born child Sameer, to a congenital heart defect (CHD) on December 20, 1983, within 16 hours of his birth. Amidst their grief, they found solace in volunteering with the Missionaries of Charity which gave a whole new meaning to their life.

This journey not only helped them navigate their own loss but also shaped a vision. In 2001, that vision became reality with the founding of Genesis Foundation. What started as a vision of 2 individuals, has over the years transformed into a foundation dedicated to ensuring that every single child born with a heart defect is diagnosed on time and receives timely treatment irrespective of his or her socio-economic background.

As Genesis Foundation completes 24 years, it also celebrates a remarkable milestone—5,000 little hearts supported. Behind this number are 5,000 families who found renewed hope and 5,000 children who were given a second chance at life.

At the core of the foundation’s work is a simple, powerful belief: every child deserves a chance to grow, to dream, to live. Our focus is on children from underprivileged families, where the monthly income is ₹20,000 or less- families for whom the cost of heart surgery is simply out of reach. Every donation for heart surgery we receive goes directly toward treatment, transforming not just one life, but entire families.

In this journey of 24 years, we have witnessed powerful stories of courage and transformation. Like the newborn baby, just two days old, diagnosed with Transposition of Great Arteries with Intact Septum, a complex heart condition. The medical team at our partner hospital in Coimbatore quickly acted and performed a special surgery called Arterial Switch Operation that saved baby’s life. Or the 11-year-old daughter of a driver, who became one of the first in India to have a 3D-printed model of her heart guide a complex open-heart surgery, giving her a second chance at life. And brave little 10-year-old girl, who was diagnosed during one of our screening camps and went on to receive the intricate ROSS procedure – an extraordinary surgery performed at only a few centres in India. Today, these children are full of life and dreaming big.

Besides supporting critical cases, we have also supported children in the remotest corners— where access to paediatric cardiac care is limited or non-existent. We actively support children living in tribal areas and aspirational districts identified by NITI Ayog to ensure that we reach the truly deserving children who would have otherwise not had access to any diagnostic or treatment support.

We, at Genesis Foundation extend our care beyond the child. We stand by the entire family to offer emotional support, guidance, and reassurance to help them navigate the overwhelming journey of treatment. By holding their hand through every step, we ensure they never feel alone in their child’s fight.

Over these 24 years we have built a community of hospital partners, donors, and volunteers, that believes in our mission to Save Little Hearts. And this year, all of us came together to celebrate the return of our flagship event, the Kasauli Rhythm & Blues Festival (KRBF). The festival buzzed with energy, music, and warmth. Every performance echoed with a shared purpose—to save more lives and spread more smiles.

Each donation for heart surgery, no matter the size, plays a vital role in these stories of transformation. When you donate to Genesis Foundation, you are not just supporting the child’s heart treatment, you are giving them the gift of life itself.

As we look back on 24 years of unwavering dedication, and ahead to the many lives still waiting for help, our hearts are full of gratitude. We thank all our hospital partners, donors, and dedicated volunteers who continue to believe in our mission. Without them, our journey would not have been possible.

You can visit http://www.genesis-foundation.net to donate, volunteer, or get more information about the Save Little Hearts initiative.