Last year, as a result of my experiences working with Cleft New Zealand, as well as my own experiences growing up with cleft lip and palate, it became clear that my original seminar that I’ve been delivering for years “It Gets Better: Dealing with Bullying” was in need of an update to reflect the reality that... Continue Reading →
Two Years On: This is Me
This is me, two years ago today on Monday 11 August 2014 having just gone through the largest of the 11 cleft related surgeries I have had to date. On this night two years ago, I was lying in a hospital bed in Ward 11 of Christchurch Hospital while some very skilled people and machines... Continue Reading →
Farewell Speech from the General Manager – 9 Dec 2015
Reposted from http://www.cleft.org.nz/farewell-speech-video-from-the-outgoing-general-manager/ Transcript and Supporting Video from Kenny Ardouin’s leaving speech, December 2015 10 and a half years – it’s longer than most marriages. And like a marriage, it’s definitely had its ups and downs – times when it is the most euphoric thing ever, and sometimes where you need a bit more convincing. But... Continue Reading →
I’m Only Human on the Inside
Presented as the opening address at the Cleft New Zealand AGM, Tuesday 26 May 2015, Auckland, New Zealand
Orthognathic Surgery
Orthognathic Surgery involves correcting the jaw position so that both the top and bottom jaws align correctly with one another. It is not uncommon in cases of cleft palate for the top teeth to sit behind the bottom teeth. This creates issues for biting and chewing and also does not look normal, particularly when it comes to observing one’s profile. When there is only a minor discrepancy between top and bottom teeth, this may be able to be corrected by orthodontics, but in cases such as mine where there was a difference of almost 1cm, this needs to be corrected by a combination of orthodontic work and orthognathic surgery.
It Gets Better: Dealing with Discrimination, Bullying and Depression
From the recent youth camp, this is Kenny Ardouin’s latest revision of “It Gets Better: Dealing with Bullying” and now deals with some of the wider issues, including dealing with discrimination across society and dealing with depression. (Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
So long and thanks for all the fish – Cleft Kids New Zealand brand retired
After nearly 10 years in New Zealand, Cleft Kids New Zealand finally retired it’s last remaining asset today - it’s website. Cleft Kids NZ (or Cleft Kidz NZ as it was known back then) originally began operating on 12 September 2005. It grew since then, with sponsorship from Woosh allowing the opening of a brand... Continue Reading →
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” 2014: A Year in Review
Well here we are at the end of another year. Ordinarily, this is the time for reflection and my annual ‘year in review’ open letter. Although, it is fair to say that 2014 has been a year that has already seen much reflection throughout the year.
Registrations of Interest for a 2015 Cleft NZ Youth Camp are now open!
Our Youth Camp in December 2013 was a fantastic opportunity to bring people together from all around the country from all walks of life who were united by their experiences of being born with a cleft. This was a very fun weekend with participants taking part in many fun activities such as rock climbing, bridge... Continue Reading →
Cleft Kids New Zealand website to be retired
Cleft Kids New Zealand was originally founded by Kenny Ardouin in September 2005 when Kenny himself was a teenager as a means of providing support for young people growing up in New Zealand affected by cleft lip and palate. This involved online and web-based support as well as working with the then Cleft Lip and... Continue Reading →
Dear Future Parents / Cher Les Futurs Parents
This weekend is Cleft Awareness Weekend in New Zealand. As part of this, in addition to the many events happening around NZ this weekend (check out www.faceit.org.nz/cad2014 to find one in your area), we also have something special to share with the entire world. It’s a video message to future parents expecting a child with a cleft -... Continue Reading →
It’s NZ Cleft Awareness Week!
In 2013, Cleft New Zealand held New Zealand’s first ever awareness day for cleft lip and palate – New Zealand’s most common condition not able to be fixed in a single procedure, yet is still one of the least talked about conditions. Awareness Day in 2013 was a success with events held in Auckland, Tauranga,... Continue Reading →
Kenny Ardouin 