The first episode of season two it a little bit different. It’s a legacy listen with my mum, Isobel. She was diagnosed with metastatic bone cancer three months before we recorded the interview. I wanted to chat to mum and find out what it was like for her when I got breast cancer, before talking about her own experiences as an amputee.

Sadly Mum died less than three months later from a pneumonia she developed during chemotherapy. I’ve listened back to our chat so many times and in my heart I knew I had to share it with you. It’s what she would have wanted.

She approached her cancer with a positive, cheery attitude and I hope that you feel a little bit of joy after listening to us natter.

If someone close to you has died recently, here is a great list of charities and organisations that can help:

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/bereavement/useful-contacts/

This is a link to Donna Ashworth’s website who’s book of poems called ‘Loss’ really helped me.

If anyone you or anyone you know has been affected by bone cancer or sarcoma, I can recommend these two charities:

Sarcoma UK

Bone Cancer Research Trust

If you’ve been moved by Mum’s story and want to donate to her legacy fund to raise money for research into osteosarcoma, you can donate here.

I’d love to know what you thought of this episode. This meant a lot to me, and I hope I’ve done the right thing in sharing it with you. You can watch the full video on my YouTube Channel

Liz O’Riordan:

Instagram @oriordanliz

Twitter @Liz_ORiordan

YouTube @DrLizORiordan

Website www.liz.oriordan.co.uk

Don’t Ignore The Elephant is hosted by Dr Liz O’Riordan, in association with Elizabeth Richards, proudly sponsored by AOK Events, produced by Bird Lime Media.