Monday March 02, 2026

Cognizant’s support gave my mother a second chance at life: Reneta Grace

Life is a strange thing. It doesn’t warn you when it’s about to test you. One moment you’re planning a holiday and the next moment you’re facing your biggest fear—the fear of losing someone you love more than yourself.

But before illness reshaped my life, before PET scans and chemotherapy became part of my vocabulary, I was already fighting personal battles. In 2013, I joined Cognizant as a young single mother with two little boys, trying to rebuild my life. What I didn’t realize then was that Cognizant would gradually become my anchor and would help save my mother’s life.

Rediscovering myself at Cognizant

Until 2013, my world was limited to my home and family. I never imagined stepping into the corporate world. Coming from a traditional background, it was a big culture shock. I joined the Operations team as an entry-level trainee. I spent my initial days quietly reading policies, observing and learning. Our outreach volunteering program excited me, and I involved myself fully. Slowly, I was being noticed. With supportive leaders and space to heal from a difficult phase of my life, Cognizant became the place where I rediscovered myself.

Over time, I grew my career—moving across roles, learning, contributing and finding my voice. Personally, I felt lighter. I immersed myself in social work, which gave me a purpose beyond my personal struggles. For the first time in years, I felt useful, confident and hopeful. Life wasn’t perfect, but it was balanced. I thought I had left my hardest years behind me. I didn’t know it was the calm before the storm.

When cancer struck my world

a person putting on makeup on another person — Holding on in the toughest moments

In July 2021, my mother complained of a sore throat. She had always been strong both physically and emotionally. Illness was never part of her life. Ten days later, I still remember the date, it was August 9, a CT scan shook my world. She was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer that had spread across her neck, thorax, lungs and heart. I reached out to other doctors in my network for a second opinion, but they all said she had only five to six months.

“Cognizant stood by me during my difficult days. My managers trusted me, my colleagues rallied around me and gave me the space to be both a professional and a daughter fighting for her mother’s life.”

Becoming the strongest in my family

two women in a wheelchair — Sitting beside mom in the hospital

I had no time to reflect or ask questions. I had to act quickly and I brought her from Vijayawada to Hyderabad. I became the person who took every decision, from doctors and scans to finances and insurance. Her chemotherapy began in September. I sat beside her in the hospital, working on a laptop, pretending all was well.

My mother fought with courage that I’d never seen before. After 49 chemotherapy sessions, 10 rounds of radiation to her brain and a bunch of chemo tablets and immunotherapy, she still refuses to give up. She wants to fight and live for her grandchildren. And I refuse to let her fight alone. While doctors told us she wouldn’t live for more than six months, it's been five years since her diagnosis.

How Cognizant gave my mother a second chance

a group of people posing for a photo — With my parents before the diagnosis

Long before cancer entered our lives, Cognizant had been taking care of us. In 2016, I underwent eye surgery, which was fully covered. My father also underwent shoulder and eye surgeries, and those too were covered by Cognizant’s medical insurance.

But I truly understood the impact of these benefits during my mother’s treatment. Since I had already added her to my medical coverage, most of the chemotherapy costs were covered. I also took top-ups year after year to gain additional coverage, and it saved me from falling into a debt trap. I can’t imagine navigating this journey without that support.

“Financial distress when you’re already emotionally vulnerable can break even the strongest spirit. Cognizant ensured it didn’t happen to me.”

My mother is still fighting today. Her journey isn’t over yet. But every extra day has been made possible because I wasn’t fighting alone. The Cognizant community stood by me when life was at its most uncertain, and that support has made all the difference.