Gold Ribbon Conversations

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 experiencin...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. Just over 10 years ago, when Sarah O’Neill was 17 when she was diagnosed with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. Sarah’s life changed that day and while she did beat cancer here she reflects on the ways it changed the course of her life, her fears, her fertility, her strengths and her purpose as she dedicates her career to...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. Joining me today is Ciara Ui Chonghaile to share her son Rian’s T-Cell Lymphoma's diagnosis in 2022. . it was a rough start but once Rian responded really well to treatment he wanted to reintegrate into school and sports as much as he could - and 2 years on is now in maintenance - due to finish in April 2026.&nb...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. In this episode I’m joined by Yvonne Shannon as she shares her daughter Ruby’s incredible recovery from a grade 4 brain tumour, diagnosed when she was just 2 and a half. Ruby is nearly 11 now and loving life, growing up fast and nothing is holding her back after a huge fight against childhood cancer. A CT scan f...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. This episode discusses the loss of a child 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.  You’ll find more information on Childhood Cancer Ireland’s bereavement sup...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. In this episode I’m joined by Elaine Crowley as she shares her son Beau’s story of being diagnosed with ALL in Feb 2024 when he was 2 and a half.  He was quite well before his diagnosis but pale and so for Elaine and her family leukaemia really was a shock. We talk about the impact of Beau’s treatment on hi...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. On this episode I’m joined by Niamh Hurley Forrester as she takes us through the story of her son Josh’s diagnosis, treatment and how their experience led her to forming a team of Aer Lingus volunteers that support families travelling for treatment.  Josh was 3 when he was diagnosed with a Rhabdoid Tumour i...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. In this episode I’m joined by Toni Bell Doyle as she shares her experience of being the big sister to her brother fighting childhood cancer. Her brother Blaine is 17 and was first diagnosed at 12 - during covid which was difficult as a family of 6 who couldn’t visit and be together.  Blaine is now being tre...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. To begin our 2025 Season we have the remarkable Irish Paediatric Oncologist - Dr. Trish Scanl an Trish is the Interim Director of Global Health at Childrens Health Ireland.  She is the CEO of charity - “ Their Lives Matter ” a group of charities based in Tanzania, Ireland & UK with the united aim to rea...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. For the final episode of the year, I am joined by Eoin Cronly and his mother Lucy.   Eoin is now 22 and was diagnosed with Leukaemia when he was 11 followed by, as he explains, every rare complication he could think of. He missed out on a lot of school and was healthy enough to return just as lockdown...

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...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. Christmas is on it’s way - which can bring some light and hope but also some sorrow, grief and overwhelm for others.  Joining me this week is Dr. Mairéad Brennan our Principal Clinical Psychologist and Director of Psychosocial Services at Childhood Cancer Ireland for an episode designed to support you over...

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 a Postdoctoral Researcher in Occupational Therapy at Trinity College Dublin and her clinical academic role is funded by the Irish Cancer Society. Her resea...

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 p...

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 e...

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...

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’...

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...

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.  La...

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...

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 ro...

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...

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 socia...

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 200...

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 experiencin...