Don't let the world change your smile, let your smile change the world.
“Congratulations you have a boy! He has a bit of a harelip, but looks otherwise healthy.” I can’t describe the shock that I felt then. This wasn’t how it was meant to be. None of the books or antenatal classes prepared us for this. My head was in a spin wondering what this meant for our future and our baby’s future. I knew what a 'harelip' was, but I’d never known anyone with the condition.
Last week marked the one year anniversary of my arrival to the UK. Now, one year on, I reflect back on the last 12 months living and working in London.
Brits and Kiwis can agree on most things. But every now and then we can unwittingly confuse one another with our lingo. I've put together a guide to help you understand your foreign buddy - with this you'll be bilingual for British bants and Kiwi yarns in no time!
Every day is a new day, let's do our best not to tar today with yesterday's brush!
As those who know me well will know, in my earlier years, I struggled significantly to express myself using speech, and am all too aware of how painfully frustrating that is. I have been fortunate however, for the last 15 years or so, to have had speech which has been able to be understood widely... Continue Reading →
In late 2017, I was interviewed by Sarla Donovan for Bay Harbour News about my experiences growing up with cleft lip and palate. This was published on Wednesday 10 Jan 2018 - read the article here: Bay Harbour News - 10 January 2018
Wonder Trailer Essential Details When: Sunday 03 December 2017 - 5.30pm-8.00pm Where: Reading Cinemas, The Palms, Christchurch What: Screening of the film Wonder preceded by Kenny Ardouin's personal journey. Who: You, your friends and family - places are limited, so be in quick though and book your tickets to avoid missing out! Ticket price: $11 (+ eventbrite booking fee) - this... Continue Reading →
Politics is exhausting. The lead up to an election is tiring - for the politicians, the volunteers on the campaign trail, for the journos and for the public that have a lot of information thrown at them to digest. Politics polarises people, creating tension in workplaces, deathly dinner stares within families, and awkward silences when... Continue Reading →
There are some times in life where you do something, or see something that leaves an impression upon you, one which you know will stay with you forever. I have had a fascinating few days so far in Berlin, Germany.
Friday 26 May 2017 saw the United Kingdom launch it's first ever Face Equality Day, the result of lots of very hard work and campaigning by UK organisation Changing Faces which coincided with the 25 year anniversary of their launch. As someone who has grown up with cleft lip and palate and faced the sometimes harsh... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
Kenny Ardouin 