From Loss to Legacy: How Mother Teresa Inspired Genesis Foundation

“Loss shattered them. Mother Teresa rebuilt them. Today their NGO has paved the way in child heart treatment, founding Genesis Foundation, a pioneer in its field.” Sounds inspiring, right? That’s exactly how I felt as I unravelled the history and reasoning behind Genesis Foundation’s achievements. Let me take you on this journey of this inspiring couple.

Jyoti and Prema Sagar lost their second-born child, Sameer, just 16 hours post his birth, to congenital heart disease (CHD). Prema was not in good condition, post her C-section, and was deprived of seeing her dear son. Due to a lack of awareness, poor medical as well as technological infrastructure, and an absence of a support system, in India at that time, they lost their son. Jyoti Sagar, with his law firm, and Prema Sagar, with her PR firm, were trailblazers in the corporate sector. Despite reaching such heights in their professional lives, they felt a sense of emptiness and loss in their daily life. Such waves of emotion lead them to find solace in the embrace of Mother Teresa. They started volunteering in the Missionaries of Charity and witnessed the work Mother Teresa had been doing for the underprivileged. So, to them, the inspiration was how just one great human being can positively impact so many lives.

In this world of conflict, hate, and factionalism, which revolves around the color, race, nationality, religion, or gender of a person, we should take inspiration from Mother Teresa. Her goal was to provide healing to the unhealed, give care to the neglected, and make the dejected happy. Her vision was noble, her heart was pure, and her sentiments were made of compassion. She spent her days assisting people with leprosy, sitting with the dying on the streets of Kolkata, and ensuring that orphaned children had something to eat and a place to call home. What began as a small mission grew into over 700 centers in more than 120 countries, providing care and support to the poorest communities worldwide. Her greatest legacy is the ripple effect of compassion and action that her life inspired, Jyoti and Prema being one of the many.

In their time as volunteers at Missionaries of Charity, they supported two children: Ravi (name changed) and Sheela (name changed).
Sheela was 12 and the daughter of a poor farmer. She had a disease that caused her facial features to be distorted. The Sagars stepped in and raised money for her surgery through non-profits in the USA. Today, she continues to live a happy life and is doing well with her new family in Ontario, Oregon, in the USA. Ravi is the son of a tea stall owner who threw him into a dry well. At the age of 7, he had broken and dislocated every major bone in his body. In association with Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children in the USA, he underwent multiple surgeries and physiotherapy. He was adopted by an American family and led a regular life as a regular student. However, we lost him on October 24, 2012. It is stories such as these that remain close to Prema & Jyoti’s hearts, and to Genesis Foundation.

Genesis Foundation is an NGO for child heart surgery, providing financial assistance to those with a monthly income of under Rs. 20,000. Over the last 24 years, we have supported over 5,000 children battling congenital heart disease. We partner with individuals, corporates, and communities who believe in creating real change. From CSR donations and payroll giving to events and awareness drives, every effort fuels a child’s chance at timely treatment. The Foundation collaborates with some of the finest hospitals and physicians in the nation to assist kids in receiving heart surgeries. We do screening, funding, and follow up care, so that families are supported, not isolated. We draw inspiration from Mother Teresa whose kindness teaches us to serve with humility. Till this day, the Foundation remains committed to its mission: to ensure that no child is denied a future because of lack of funds.

I hope that this story moved you, as it moved me.

I urge you to donate, volunteer, or partner with Genesis Foundation, which is the leading NGO working for congenital heart disease. Feel free to view our work on our website and contact us at +919650603438 or email us at contactus@genesis-foundation.net.