Gold Ribbon Conversations

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 t...

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 als...

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 t...

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. 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...

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. Jenn...

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. Lu...

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 prioriti...

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 Psychologis...

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...

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...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. In our first episode of season 7, we are joined by Mark Garry. Mark's daughter Tessa was diagnosed with neuroblastoma when she was 14 months old in 2018. Now 6 and in school, Tessa is living a happy and normal life and mark is here to remind you to look to the future ahead.  Mark talks about the treatment j...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. Our final episode this season, we are joined by Lucy Bray Professor of Child Health Literacy. Childhood Cancer Ireland was first introduced to Lucy's work at the Children in Hospital Ireland annual lecture earlier this year. Lucy looks at improving the experience for children and young people having procedures.&...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. They say lightning never strikes twice - but in this story with my guest Noreen Doyle,  it does. Norren's son James and daughter Kate were both diagnosed with cancer as children, 10 years apart. James is now 18, after finishing is leaving cert and Kate is now 14 and they both thankfully have so much ahead t...

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.  If you are impacted Anam Cara bereavement support can help. September Mark...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. Welcome back to a new season of Gold Ribbon Conversations.  Today I’m joined by Walter Kolsch Director of Systems Biology Ireland & Conway Institute, UCD & one of the founding members of Childhood Cancer Ireland Alan Pearson who are working together in what is the biggest investment in cancer resear...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. In our final episode of the season we are so grateful to be joined by Sarah Barnes Aabo . At two and half, her gorgeous lively little boy became noticeably unwell very quickly.  Kian, was diagnosed with Leukemia and while this news changed everything. Chemotherapy took its toll on Kian's immune system and l...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. May is Brain Tumour Awareness Month so in this season we bring you some stories focused on brain tumours with medical experts, the survivors and those we have sadly lost.  Diagnosed at 10 with brain cancer - Dylan Smith Bresnahan is now 21 years old and has just finished second year in college. His story is...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. In this episode, we are joined by Child and adolescent psychotherapist Debbie Cullinane to answer your questions about how to emotionally support your family. At childhood cancer ireland we know there is  so much more to fighting cancer than the medical side and supporting our children to process their emot...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. May is Brain Tumour Awareness Month so in this season we bring you some stories focused on brain tumours with medical experts, the survivors and those we have sadly lost.  Trigger Warning: This episode discusses the loss of a child to cancer. While this conversation is essential for families who have experi...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. May is Brain Tumour Awareness Month so in this season we bring you some stories focused on brain tumours with medical experts, the survivors and those we have sadly lost.  Dr Taffy, Ire;ands 1st Female Paediatric Neurosurgeon is our first guest this season. A mother of 3 we talk openly about why she is so c...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. In our final episode of this season we are joined by Louise Quail to talk about her son Jimmie's cancer diagnosis in 2019 while she was working in fundraising for the charity, Ronald McDonald House. When Jimmie was 3 he was diagnosed with a tumour in his left cheek, Louise was 16 weeks pregnant at the time &...

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer. In this episode we meet Connie Crehan, a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Paediatric Cancer in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda    Connie cares for patients in a “shared care” hospital setting, a local unit like our lady of lourdes is a huge support for families who need regular care without the...

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 - please protect your emotional wellbeing.  Anam Cara Bereavement Support In todays episode I'm joined by author of the Adam’s Cloud books Benji Bennett . Benji's son Adam...

Here I sit down with Eavann McCarthy as she shares her son Patrick’s fight with leukaemia.  Patrick was diagnosed with leukaemia a month before his 4th birthday. He's now 10 and in 4th class and doing really well. Like many Eavann went into survival mode when Patrick and acknowledges the trauma it placed their young family in. We talk about what support looks like, how the staff on St John’s...