Gold Ribbon Conversations

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer.Trigger Warning: This episode discusses the loss of a child to cancer.If you have been impacted by the loss of a child, you will find information, resources and support at Anam Cara, an organisation which supports parents after bereavement. They also have information for siblings, grandparents and other family members, which may be helpful.Colleen McNally joins me as we remember her gorgeous boy Daragh.Shortly after turning 11, Daragh became unwell. He was sick for five weeks and five days before he passed away. Daragh was an incredibly special little boy. Daragh’s autism was moderate to severe.Here we talk about his autism, how he was always at the centre of family life, the shock of his acute illness and the legacy of grief they share as a family. It’s both beautiful and heartbreaking. And we thank Colleen for her words and for sharing Daragh’s story with us. https://childhoodcancer.ie/story/daragh-mcnally/  Please text GOLD to 50300 and donate €4 or visit childhoodcancer.ie for more.Childhood Cancer Ireland is a charity founded by and led by parents of children with cancer who know that one of the greatest sources of strength for this fight, is conversation. As a non-government funded organisation, Childhood Cancer Ireland values every single donation.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura and Adrian Healy join me on this episode to talk about their 2 year old son Jamie.Just 4 months before recording, Jamie was diagnosed with Leukaemia and their lives changed overnight.With 3 older sisters at home, their normal busy chaotic family life needed endless support from family, friends, the team at St John’s ward and other charities like Barretstown and Aoibhinns Pink Tie. Laura and Adrian are still very much in shock, it’s very early days for them but Jamie is doing really well and this is an essential listen for any family who is newly diagnosed, scared, lonely and searching for other families going through the same. ***Please text GOLD to 50300 and donate €4 or visit childhoodcancer.ie for more.Childhood Cancer Ireland is a charity founded by and led by parents of children with cancer who know that one of the greatest sources of strength for this fight, is conversation. As a non-government funded organisation, Childhood Cancer Ireland values every single donation.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer.Trigger Warning: This episode discusses the loss of a child to cancer.If you have been impacted by the loss of a child, you will find information, resources and support at Anam Cara, an organisation which supports parents after bereavement. They also have information for siblings, grandparents and other family members, which may be helpful.***Joining me today are the parents of Oscar Keogh and the founders of Oscar Kids a charity creating magic moments for those with a palliative care or terminal diagnosis.  - Yavanna  and Lar Keogh.Oscar was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour, when he was 3 and a half and left this world with all his mischievous love on the 29th July 2019. During his illness his parents decided to live and find magic in everyday. This was the beginning of helping other families to have these moments with their terminally ill children too.Here we celebrate Oscar, and the legacy he has left through Oscars Kids, but we also talk about grief, about navigating this world after losing a child, how Yavanna and Lar found the motivation to turn this grief into support for others while also acknowledging the toll it takes as they heal their own hearts while witnessing so many other families go through the same. Grief is not linear. There is no formula. And time, doesn’t necessarily heal. But talking helps and that is what we did.***Please text GOLD to 50300 and donate €4 or visit childhoodcancer.ie for more.Childhood Cancer Ireland is a charity founded by and led by parents of children with cancer who know that one of the greatest sources of strength for this fight, is conversation. As a non-government funded organisation, Childhood Cancer Ireland values every single donation.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer.I’m joined by Juliet D'Alton to talk about her son Jacob and his diagnosis of LCH - Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis at just 3 months old. Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis is a rare myeloid neoplasm and is treated with chemotherapy by the team at St Johns Ward Crumlin. We talk about the long and anxious road to diagnosis for something so rare.A parents instinct when turned away with another cream to try.The impact on their mental health as parents.And why it’s so important to accept help.To help us to continue our services please text GOLD to FIVE ZERO THREE ZERO ZERO and donate €4 or visit childhoodcancer.ie for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I’m joined by Debbie Cullinane to discuss the power of your child's peer relationships.Debbie is is a qualified child and adolescent psychotherapist and play therapist, mother of 2 and former primary school teacher.Together with Dr. Mairead Brennan  She facilitates our parent workshops.No matter what age the child is, interacting with their peers can be tricky during/after treatment. We talk about feeling disconnected, exclude or even  bullied and are there strategies to deal with it.Debbie helps us understand  why peer relationships can be challenging and what makes them even more challenging during/after childhood cancer? And as parents how do we strike the balance between being supportive and too involved. To help us to continue our services please text GOLD to FIVE ZERO THREE ZERO ZERO and donate €4 or visit childhoodcancer.ie for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trish Gleeson is the CNS for adolescent and young adult cancer in Galway University Hospital.Nationally, AYA services are developing thanks to people like Trish who understand the needs and adaptions adolescents and young adults need while fighting cancer. This group of 16-24 year olds have unique needs, very different to paediatric but also different to adult. We talk about teens and social inclusion, young adults and alcohol, fertility and education, We talk about the validity of needing to belong while also finding a language for what they are uniquely experiencing.  And why things like chill out areas being funded by Childhood Cancer Ireland are so important to these AYA hospital centres. To help us to continue our services please text GOLD to FIVE ZERO THREE ZERO ZERO and donate €4 or visit childhoodcancer.ie for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Children’s Hospice Week takes place from 19th to 26th May - a week dedicated to raising awareness for Children’s Hospice and Palliative care. We are proud to shine a light on the wonderful care given by LauraLynn Children's Hospice. I’m joined by Liz O'Donoghue Assistant Director of Nursing at LauraLynn, Ireland's Children's Hospice.Laura Lynn was founded by Jane and Brendan Mc Kenna in 2001 after their two daughters Laura (4) and Lynn (15) passed away from life limiting conditions, 20 months apart.As Assistant director of Nursing, Liz joins us to talk about the hospice, the care and the respite it provides. We talk about palliative care and what that actually means for families. And above all - the value of hospice care - wrapping around the entire family. To help us to continue our services please text GOLD to FIVE ZERO THREE ZERO ZERO and donate €4 or visit childhoodcancer.ie for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer.May is brain tumour awareness month. Brain tumours are the second most common cause of cancer in children in Ireland. Like a lot of childhood cancers, the symptoms can be varied and can be similar to other childhood illnesses. Always speak to your GP about any unusual signs and symptoms your child is experiencing.  In this episode I’m joined by 18 yr old Freya Fitzpatrick and her mum Emma. Freya was first diagnosed with medula-blastoma, a brain tumour in March 2018 when she was 12.She has gone through surgery and numerous rounds of chemo and radiotherapy but her cancer returned in 2022.We talk a lot about transitions.The impact of a diagnosis at 12 and missing 1st year.The impact of a second diagnosis at 16 when her independence should have been taking off. And the impact of transitioning out of crumlin and childrens care and being treated as an adult in the health system. With some honesty and words of wisdom for other teens going through this.To help us to continue our services please text GOLD to FIVE ZERO THREE ZERO ZERO and donate €4 or visit childhoodcancer.ie for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer.In this episode I’m joined by financial advisor Eleanor Murnane. Her son Theo was diagnosed with neuroblastoma when he was 14 months old.He's now 6 and doing really well. We talk about how challenging it is to figure out the financial hurdles of life while caring for a sick child and why she is now giving her time and financial advice for free to families fighting childhood cancer as part of a brand new initiative. Childhood Cancer Ireland has teamed up with the LIA (the centre of excellence for the education and development of financial professionals to provide information and advice to help families navigate their way through this difficult time. The financial support programme is free of charge, non judgemental and entirely confidential. You’ll learn more in this episode - and by visiting childhoodcancer.ie To help us to continue our services please text GOLD to FIVE ZERO THREE ZERO ZERO and donate €4 or visit childhoodcancer.ie for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer.Joining me today is Dr. Massa Jabra, a doctor in Syria. Dr. Massa was appointed Childhood Cancer Advocate for SIOP this year. SIOP is the International Society of Paediatric Oncology where her role is to spread awareness of childhood cancer and SIOP's work to the paediatric oncology community. Massa is also involved with BASMA (which means smile in Arabic), a Syrian organisation for children with cancer. She volunteers for psychosocial support for children. She believes that psychosocial support is as necessasry as medical treatment. We talk about what led her to become an oncologist, the challenges of care in a conflict zone, public awareness of signs and symptoms and how when survival is your top priority, healthcare becomes more challenging. Dr. Massa's work is so necessary and exceptional and we thank her for joining us.To help us to continue our services please text GOLD to FIVE ZERO THREE ZERO ZERO and donate €4 or visit childhoodcancer.ie for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer.Karen Dempsey is a celebrant and founder of Entheos a supportive service that can walk alongside families when marking an occasion or a loss.When it comes to funerals, Karen wants to normalise the conversation.She understands how important it is for people to know that they have choices. They have permission to be creative and design a ceremony that is meaningful and right for the person they are cherishing. We talk about how as a nurse she recognised the need for a more human compassionate support to step in and hold people through their loss. We talk about how ceremonies can be fun and bright and full of life, why ceremonies are so good for our souls and how she encourages anyone who missed out during covid to plan one now with the people who should have been there. To help us to continue our services please text GOLD to FIVE ZERO THREE ZERO ZERO and donate €4 or visit childhoodcancer.ie for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer.Trigger Warning: This episode discusses the loss of a child to cancer.If you have been impacted by the loss of a child, you will find information, resources and support at Anam Cara, an organisation which supports parents after bereavement. They also have information for siblings, grandparents and other family members, which may be helpful.Carmel O’Mahony gave birth to her first baby Zoe 2016When Zoe was nearly 3 and a half, Carmel's maternal instinct told her that this new tiredness and vomiting was something more serious. It was ATRT, a very rare tumour with a 40% chance of survival. Surgery, chemo and proton therapy followed - but zoe relapsed in March 2020They had a beautiful spring together as a family but Zoe’s fight would end quickly in June less than a year after diagnosis..Zoe loved Crumlin and Crumlin loved Zoe.The whole corridor was lined with staff as a guard of honour. We talk about grief and spirit. About her little life and the huge impact she made. And we talk about the courage it takes to continue after losing a child. ***Please text GOLD to 50300 and donate €4 or visit childhoodcancer.ie for more.Childhood Cancer Ireland is a charity founded by and led by parents of children with cancer who know that one of the greatest sources of strength for this fight, is conversation.As a non-government funded organisation, Childhood Cancer Ireland values every single donation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer.Joining me today is Aoife Moggan. Aoife was diagnosed with a rare spinal cancer when she was 13.6 Spinal surgeries and cancer treatment later - aoife is in her 30’s and survived childhood cancer but experiences longterm effects including chronic pain, reliance on high dose painkillers, loss of power in her leg and even a paralysed vocal chord. She now advocates for other survivors - for joined up thinking, access to care and late effects clinics, sharing medical records, a multidisciplinary team often just to get answers. This episode celebrates fighting cancer - but it also acknowledges that people expect you to be your old self - you expect you to be your old self but survivorship means so much more than that. To get involved in team ireland - click here https://m.facebook.com/p/Team-Ireland-100068621974067/https://beatcancer.eu/To help us to continue our services please text GOLD to FIVE ZERO THREE ZERO ZERO and donate €4 or visit childhoodcancer.ie for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer.Joining me today is Jenny Forde to share Marlie’s story. Marlie is a bright and happy little girl doing so well after going through so much. In 2021 when Marlie was 3 and a half she was diagnosed with a malignant Grade 4  brain tumour and endured several life saving surgeries and treatments. Jenny takes us thorugh her early symptoms, a mothers intuition, the impact on the wider family and the processing of the trauma after the fight is done. This is a beautiful and compassionate episode full of enduring gratitude and hope. To join our parent workshops in 2024 - find out more on our websiteTo help us to continue our services please text GOLD to FIVE ZERO THREE ZERO ZERO and donate €4 or visit childhoodcancer.ie for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer.Joining me for our final episode of the year is Paediatric Anaesthetic Radiation Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist in St. Luke's Hospital, Rathgar - Edel Tevlin. And it’s made even more poignant as we record on Edel’s final week in work before her retirement.  Edel was the first paediatric nurse in St. Luke's and will retire in December after a long nursing career and 8 years in this role. St. Luke's is the National Radiotherapy Centre. Approx 50% of children diagnosed with cancer will require radiotherapy - and those aged around 2-4 would need a general anaesthetic for every radiotherapy session because they have to stay still. We talk about her career and what brought her to St Lukes, how meaningful it is to connect with and support the families.About the special play areas for children and the knitted crocheted blankets every child receives thanks to Friends of St Lukes.  We would like to wish Edel every thanks for her service and a long and happy retirement. And to you all listening, we hope this podcast has supported you this year, thank you to our guests for sharing their personal stories and to you all listening for being here. To help us to continue our services please text GOLD to FIVE ZERO THREE ZERO ZERO and donate €4 or visit childhoodcancer.ie for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.