Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. In this episode I’m joined by Dr. Naomi Algeo, Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist in Cancer Services with  St. James's Hospital Dr. Naomi is also an Assistant Professor in Occupational Therapy at Trinity College Dublin and her clinical academic role is funded by the Irish Cancer Society. Her research tries to identify the needs of adolescents and young adults as they return to school, education or...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. In today’s episode we are joined by Martina Quirke to talk about Sophie, her 9 year old daughter who was diagnosed with ALL, Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in January 2023. And while this is a very open and raw conversation - it is a hopeful one as Sophie's cancer has very successful outcomes. We talk about the physical but also the psycho social side of cancer at this age, the need for greater psychological...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. Joining us today is Paula Conlon, Community and Engagement Manager at Barretstown. Paula has been working with Barretstown for 4 years, delivering their education and outreach programmes and here we discuss why it's so important to have age appropriate information shared to students, the benefits to the family experiencing childhood cancer and the students. Every programme is unique, each script written...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. In this episode I’m joined by Michelle and Daniel Burke as they share the long road their son Alex has walked since diagnosis of Neuroblastoma aged one and a half. Alex is now 4 and after every type of treatment including chemo, radiation, stem cell, immunotherapy, surgery and a very specific medication to treat a mutation - Alex is doing really well.  We talk about his initial symptoms and diagnosis, how...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. We have a guest returning to Gold Ribbon Conversations this week. We last spoke to Karl Corcoran about 18 months ago - as a young adult Karl had been diagnosed and beaten lymphoma but it had left a legacy of concerns for him as a young adult wanting to build a life for himself : fertility + career. What we didn’t know then was that Karl would go on to be a dad and he would go on to find a role that aligned...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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 2016 When Zoe was...

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...

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...

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...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. In this episode, I’m joined by Laura & Stephen Reily as they share the journey they have been on since their 2 year old son Jude was diagnosed with Leukaemia just a few months ago in June 2023.  We talk about the initial signs and symptoms, to the eventual diagnosis. How much their world, their priorities and their perspective on life changed. We talk about the moments of despair and the moments that...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. In this episode I'm joined by Avril Deegan, a survivor of childhood cancer and now a 3rd year PDH student researching Childhood Leukaemia Survivorship from a psychological perspective.  She is working with Prof. Owen Smith (who was her oncologist as a child) and Chiara Besani, Principal Clinical Psychologist in Crumlin to look at resilience, quality of life and social support at the end of treatment. Avril...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. Trigger Warning: This episode discusses the loss of a young adult to cancer. While this conversation is essential for families who have experienced this grief, it may be understandably upsetting and so we encourage you to protect your emotional wellbeing.  *** Joining me this week is Emma Kate O'Dwyer as we remember her sister Lily May who lost her fight to cancer.  Lily May was diagnosed with Ewings...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. In this episode I’m joined by Dr. Mairead Brennan, senior clinical psychologist, cancer care west. Here we talk about the psychology of what's happening for parents - the physical and emotional effects - both during and after treatment.  Dr. Mairead offers some practical tips to help you navigate this time and the impact on your emotional and physical relationship by validating different stages and giving...