Gold Ribbon Conversations

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.

Joining us today to share her son’s Samuels story is Louise Kinlen.

Samuel was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia shortly before his fifth birthday. He underwent more than three years of chemotherapy at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, after which he was able to resume the life of a typical, active, eight-year-old. In December 2019, Samuel suddenly and unexpectedly relapsed. He died three days later.

But here we want to talk about and remember the person he was and the legacy he has left on them as a family and his friends. Louise also shares the supports she leaned on in those earlier years, the role Anam Cara has played and words of compassion for any parent experiencing the grief and loss of a child.

You’ll find more information on Childhood Cancer Ireland’s bereavement supports on childhoodcancer.ie

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.

Text costs €4. Childhood Cancer Ireland will receive a minimum of €3.25. Service Provider: Fundraising Solutions. Helpline: 01 202 2810.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer.

In today’s episode, we are joined by Ciarán Madigan to talk about his son Ricardo's ALL diagnosis at just 6 months old and the challenges that followed. 

Ricardo had a cough, and because it was the 23rd of December, his parents made the intuitive decision to go directly to the hospital instead of trying to get a GP, a decision that meant Ricardo’s diagnosis, treatment, and recovery could start as quickly as possible. 

But not long after diagnosis, Ricardo became very ill with pneumonia, sepsis and a long stay in ICU.

With nothing working Ricardo was airlifted to Stockholm for a treatment called ECMO, which saved his life. 

We talk about symptoms, diagnosis and recovery, highlighting the importance of intuition, community, support and mental health. 

You’ll find more information on Childhood Cancer Ireland’s bereavement supports on childhoodcancer.ie

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. 

Text costs €4. Childhood Cancer Ireland will receive a minimum of €3.25. Service Provider: Fundraising Solutions. Helpline: 01 202 2810.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer.

In today’s episode we are joined by Sarah Dunne, a young woman who has battled cancer not once but twice.

Sarah was first diagnosed with leukaemia when she was 13.

Treatment was incredibly tough but successful - however what followed was almost harder as her immune system suppression caused a critical infection into her lungs.

Just as she was coming to the other side of this journey, back on her feet, in college studying special needs nursing and loving life she began to experience some new symptoms. 

With a history of MS in the family she was sent for a neurological assessment where her bloods indicated a cancer had returned - more treatment, more missed experiences, more fatigue and anxiety but earlier this year Sarah got the good news she needed to hear, her cancer blasts were gone and she can plan for her future again. 

You’ll find more information on Childhood Cancer Ireland’s bereavement supports on childhoodcancer.ie

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. 

Text costs €4. Childhood Cancer Ireland will receive a minimum of €3.25. Service Provider: Fundraising Solutions. Helpline: 01 202 2810.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. 

Lyndsey McKenna joins us to talk about her little man, Fionn.

Fionn was two and a half when he passed away 10 months after being diagnosed with Leukaemia.

His little body couldn’t do anymore but his life, and legacy certainly will. 

Lyndsey with love and pride shares his story with us, from symptoms and diagnosis, to being cherished during every minute of the end. 

We talk about grief and disbelief, how her circle have supported her and Fionn’s dad Jay and how their second son Tiernan will always be aware of his amazing big brother the signs Fionn leaves for them all

Some words that helped on the hardest of days and how important it is to give parents the space to talk about the children they’ll always love. 

You’ll find more information on Childhood Cancer Ireland’s bereavement supports on childhoodcancer.ie

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. 

Text costs €4. Childhood Cancer Ireland will receive a minimum of €3.25. Service Provider: Fundraising Solutions. Helpline: 01 202 2810.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer.

In this episode we talk with Eimear Hardiman about her 10 year old daughter Clodagh.

At 17 months old Clodagh was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

We talk about how as parents they’ve talked and educated Clodagh on what happened to her when she was young, the valuable support they recently had with our play therapy and at our Survivorship Weekend and the trust and belief they have for the care children with cancer receive in this country. 

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. 

Text costs €4. Childhood Cancer Ireland will receive a minimum of €3.25. Service Provider: Fundraising Solutions. Helpline: 01 202 2810.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer.

Sandra Mangan joins us to talk about her 5 year old son Jude's diagnosis.

Jude was born with ACC Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum.

And then in December 2023 he was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma a rare type of cancer that develops in the soft tissue.

As a family they had to lean on supports for Jude’s disabilities and this was no different. From play therapy through Childhood Cancer Ireland to family and neighbours making sure Jude’s big brother Cillian was always cared for to the kindness of strangers, this episode talks about how a cancer diagnosis can hit even when you think you’ve been through it all - but that there are more people than you know here to help.

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. 

Text costs €4. Childhood Cancer Ireland will receive a minimum of €3.25. Service Provider: Fundraising Solutions. Helpline: 01 202 2810.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer.

In our new episode of Gold Ribbon Conversations we talk about the need for platelet donors and how transformative a donation can be for a person fighting cancer with Ger O'Neill a platelet donor for over 20 years and Jo Lawlor National Apheresis Recruitment Manager for the Irish Blood Transfusion Service. 

Ger's son was diagnosed with cancer when he was 3 years old, which motivated Ger to become platelet donor.

While Jo explains why Ireland needs more platelet donors, the process, the criteria of eligability and extends an invitation to anyone eligible to get in touch to learn more.

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Daire Plunkett.

Donate for Dáire is an incredible initiative to encourage eligible people in Ireland to become platelet donors with the Irish Blood Transfusion Service.

To contact the Platelet Donation Team:

Visit: https://www.giveblood.ie/platelets/

Dublin Centre:

National Blood Centre, James's Street, Dublin 8.

Call -  01 432 2833

Cork Centre:

St. Finbarr's Hospital, Cork.

Call - 021 480 7429 

To get started, you can complete the Platelet Eligibility Quiz to confirm you meet the preliminary health requirements before contacting the team.

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. 

Text costs €4. Childhood Cancer Ireland will receive a minimum of €3.25. Service Provider: Fundraising Solutions. Helpline: 01 202 2810.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer.

In this episode we sit down with Doireann Cassidy, her son Harry was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour in 2022 when he was 6.

Harry has the NF1 gene. Harry’s father and grandfather have it so the family would have looked out for lumps on the body but to date everyone has been well so there wasn’t too much concern but Harry developed a non-cancerous lump, a tumour on his brain. 

Even though the tumour was benign, he needed 85 weeks of chemo in Crumlin which took its toll on his body like any other patient.

The family had to adapt, his sisters had to move school to accommodate the new routine, but they found their rhythm and today Harry is doing really well despite the lasting impact on his mobility. 

He has been supported by the NRH (National Rehabilitation Hospital) is using assistive technology for writing in school and is looking for new sports that suits his physical disability.

We also talk about how their story while not cancer had similar challenges due to the duration of chemo, the anxiety over the brain tumour and their hesitance to receive the much needed support. 

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. 

Text costs €4. Childhood Cancer Ireland will receive a minimum of €3.25. Service Provider: Fundraising Solutions. Helpline: 01 202 2810.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gold Ribbon Conversations - The podcast that supports those fighting Childhood Cancer.

This week we meet 23 year old Ashleigh Kiernan who works at Barretstown, is starting her masters in September, and fought leukaemia at just 7 years old.  

She remembers quite a lot from treatment including her parents telling her and the fears she had.  

But she didn't let anything stop her living during treatment, and that summer was the first time she went to Barretstown and made a promise to herself to return as an adult to work here helping children and to advocate for survivorship services. 

When she was 11 she started advocacy work through Crumlin's youth advisory group.

she is now a member of YPAG - the young person's advisory group bringing the voices of young people into research.

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. 

Text costs €4. Childhood Cancer Ireland will receive a minimum of €3.25. Service Provider: Fundraising Solutions. Helpline: 01 202 2810.

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. Always speak to your GP about any unusual signs and symptoms your child is experiencing.

We are joined by Melanie O'Sullivan mum to Rio who was diagnosed with a brain tumour in May 2024. And is doing really well.

The family have all leaned on support services, charities, ways to keep spirits bright throughout their time including play therapy provided by Childhood Cancer Ireland. And while this story will never leave them it is proof that there is so much hope and treatment available for a brain tumour diagnosis. 

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts or link in bio.

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. 

Text costs €4. Childhood Cancer Ireland will receive a minimum of €3.25. Service Provider: Fundraising Solutions. Helpline: 01 202 2810.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.