Omkar Kadam

Life changing event for Omkar, where he can now hear properly. Make My Dream is glad, it helped in making this happen...

Omkar Ranjit Kadam, 16 year old student, now leads a socially active life, with his new hearing implant. Make My Dream Foundation is proud to be part in making this happen. Founder of Make My Dream Foundation, Ms. Medha Kulkarni says “Our mission is not just to provide medical aid. Instead we work towards making them self – reliant and achieve their long term goals”.

Omkar, from Gajawadi village, at the foothills of Sajjangad, was born partially deaf, missing an outer ear and ear canal in both side. This congenital defect is called bilateral microtia with bilateral moderate to severe conductive hearing loss. His parent hails from poor farmer's family had consulted with several doctors, who suggested BAHA (Bone Anchored Hearing Aid) implant, to improve his hearing, speech perception, social opportunity and quality of life. They approached Medha Kulkarni, founder of Make My Dream Foundation, at Sonwadi-Gajawadi Village Camp, in August 2015 to assist with this operation as cost of the BAHA 4 system implant was quoted Rs. 4.98 lacs.

BAHA (Bone Anchored Hearing Aid Implants), transmit the sound waves through the bones in our skull, or bone conduction, thereby bypassing the outer and middle ear. After a few more visits to doctors and research, to ascertain the risk factors, the foundation decided to get enhanced BAHA implants (1.3 tesla), which offer patients a high level of MRI compatibility.

Make My Dream Foundation approached Dr. Hetal Marfatia, ENT Surgeon from K.E.M., Mumbai, for the operation who helped with fund raising. Tata trust aided with Rs 3.63 lakhs, and Murli Laj Chungai charity trust Rs. 0.40 lakhs. Make My Dream Foundation raised funds of around Rs. 1 lakhs towards the project.

In the meantime, Omkar was in his 10th standard. He was doing regular schooling, although his partial hearing affected his academic performance. He wanted to complete his board examination before doing the operation. He completed his 10th standard with 55% marks. Make My Dream Foundation was also constantly giving him positive counselling to mentally prepare him for the operation.

Finally in August 2016, the operation was performed successfully. After completion of Austio Integration in November 2016, Omkar started hearing normally. Omkar’s parents life-long efforts and Make My Dream Foundation’s financial and moral support made this happen. This was a life-changing event in Omkar’s life. Now he can hear life-long.

Omkar is now pursuing B.A. and is doing fine academically. We have conducted an aptitude test for him where he has shown inclination and aptitude towards fine arts. Make My Dream Foundation will assist through-out the journey, till he becomes self-reliant.