Gold Ribbon Conversations – Details, episodes & analysis

Mom to triplet boys Lindsay Harrison joins me in this episode as she shares her son Joshua’s story of Ewings Sarcoma. 

Joshua and his brothers were all born prematurely, Joshua the smallest of them all. 

He has had to fight his whole life to be here and while his parents fought along side him with different challenges, nobody could have anticipated childhood cancer.

He was diagnosed with an aggressive form of the cancer after developing a rash when he was 9 and they were referred to a dermatologist when it wouldn’t clear up and needed a full year of chemotherapy treatment. 

They became 2 separate families with Lindsay and Joshua in hospital and Justin and their other two boys at home, work and school - with all 3 boys handling this new reality differently. 

We talk about the diagnosis, his treatment and how as an autistic child he found it all so overwhelming. 

We also talk about the supports and how as a family they coped, the value of peer to peer support  and the real impact on a parents nervous system during and most importantly after treatment ends. 

Childhood Cancer Ireland and our clinicial Psychologist Dr. Mairead Brennan can be a huge help to families.

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.

We are joined today by a son and dad team, Rob and Conor Crabbe.

Conor is 13 and was diagnosed with ALL when he was 10 and we talk about looking forward to hopefully finishing treatment this summer, about how hard it's been to miss school, time with friends and never knowing when a temperature might hit. 

Conor has changed a lot over the last 3 years and he looks back on his beads of courage with pride and understanding how much he has gone through. 

We also hear his dad's perspective from symptoms to diagnosis to having to stay calm, positive and keeping the show firmly on the road in work, at home and in his relationship with Conor.

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.

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 treated in an adult hospital and it's a different experience as they are all able to go in. 

Toni is the eldest and took on a very caring role and explains how everyone in the family experienced it differently. We talk about the impact of a diagnosis on siblings, the concern and worry they carry - how they miss their parents time and attention and how important it is that the wider network check on their wellbeing too 

But we also talk about how important they can be in bringing life and hope and a bit of healthy slagging back in to the family when things might feel dark.

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.

To begin our 2025 Season we have the remarkable Irish Paediatric Oncologist - Dr. Trish Scanlan

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 reach every child in Tanzania who develops cancer. 

And she is Co Medical Director of Children not Numbers a multi disciplinary team of experts dedicated to improving the lives of children in Gaza through a comprehensive approach to health, safety, education, and rehabilitation. 

and most recently, Dr Trish as paediatric lead supported the evacuation of children to Ireland for healthcare.

We talk about what first brought her to Tanzania, how 10 children a day developed cancer with 9 out of 10 of these children losing their battle to Today when the survival rate is now 50%.

She shares her commitment to fighting for the paediatric care of children, and her optimism for what’s now possible when fighting childhood cancer.  

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.

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 happened.

But by understanding the accommodations he was entitled to, he sat the leaving cert and is now well on his way to finishing college - despite many health set backs and adverse side effects to steroid treatments.

Lucy was with him throughout and has trained as a parent peer supporter with Childhood Cancer Ireland to be able to offer support to other parents and is a huge advocate for sharing information and empathy. 

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. 

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

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.

Erin Tierney was only 22 and in her final year in college when she got pregnant with her first baby, Córa.  

At 7 months, unexpectedly, Córa was diagnosed with with a rare & aggressive embryonal tumour with multilayered rosettes (ETMR) in her brain and spinal cord. Córa lived for another 10 days. 

The shock and grief of this sudden diagnosis and loss shatterd Erin, Conor and their families. And in the years since have found the strength to keep going. Baby Florence arrived a couple of months ago and the Córa Rose Foundation has been set up to support bereaved parents. This is heartbreaking but Erin's courage and compassion is a gift to everyone who listens. 

You can read Córa's story here https://childhoodcancer.ie/story/cora-rose-tierney-donoghue/

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. 

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

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 the next few weeks. 

We understand that If their child is sick at home or sick in hospital, normal Christmas plans can be thrown into chaos.

You may feel pressure or the want to keep up traditions and fight against it just not being possible this year.

Mairead offers some strategies to help you this Christmas.

We hope this episode offers you some compassion and support - for more please get in touch with us at info@childhoodcancer.ie

To help us to continue our services please text GOLD to FIVE ZERO THREE ZERO ZERO and donate €4 or visit childhoodcancer.ie for more.

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

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 research tries to identify the needs of adolescents and young adults as they return to school, education or work after cancer.

Naomi has a special interest in understanding the needs of leaving cert students and she is recruiting this age group to take part in a study to understand what impacts their return to education, work, friend groups and life again.

To take part in this study please contact info@childhoodcancer.ie

To help us to continue our services please text GOLD to FIVE ZERO THREE ZERO ZERO and donate €4 or visit childhoodcancer.ie for more.

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

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 support, navigating friendships, inclusion and a loss of identity. 

We talk about the fear, the anger, the stamina and the support it takes to find your way through.

To help us to continue our services please text GOLD to FIVE ZERO THREE ZERO ZERO and donate €4 or visit childhoodcancer.ie for more.

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

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 to suit that circumstances and it's always age appropriate.

They talk about chemo, the freddie, the illness and focus on bravery.

We are delighted to showcase another example of amazing support available to families fighting childhood cancer.

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