This week, I sit down with Sequana O’Brien, a young woman who has lived through an extraordinary amount of loss and hardship in just a few short years. In 2022, her mother passed away from stage 4 cancer. Just two weeks later, her sister entered a devastating psychosis and, after a long and painful struggle, also passed away six months to the day after their mum. At the same time, Sequana was trying to care for her unwell father, all while studying for her Leaving Cert.It’s a story of unimaginable grief, but also one of strength, love, and quiet resilience. Sequana shares it all with such honesty and grace.You can find Sequana @Sequana_make upThis episode is kindly brought to you by GK Media.For more information on their legacy video and podcast service please visit them here https://www.gkmedia.ie/legacyFor more information on Grief Retreats visit www.griefireland.com
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1:02:13
Family Flowers Only with Kathie Stritch
So this week it was my turn!!!!! Im allergic haha.Being the host of this podcast, and creating the whole Grief Ireland space I thought it was time to sit down and share my own story for those who perhaps wouldn't have heard it before. I do know some of you will have but there are so many new people coming across this page and podcast daily that I felt it was needed to put context on who I am and how I came to be in this position, helping to support and give space to those who grieve and have lost.I have no problem ever saying a few words but this did feel intimidating and I am nervous putting this out there but Im just going to do it and move forward then and not care too much about the response. It will reach and help those it is meant to.A continued thank you to you all for following along and supporting the podcast. Don't forget to do all the usual things to support and help it to continue to grow.For more information about the grief workshop and grief retreats please check out www.griefireland.comThis season has been brought to you by LOVE CHERISH https://www.lovecherish.com/Thank you Maeve and team for your support and belief Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@familyflowersonlyInstagram https://www.instagram.com/griefireland/?hl=en
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1:17:02
Family Flowers Only with Kirsty Forde
This week, I sit down with Kirsty Forde, who shares the heartbreaking story of losing her partner, Glenn Fullam. Kirsty and Glenn were young, so in love, and raising their little boy Cruz when Glenn was suddenly diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, a rare and fast-moving illness that doctors couldn’t even name.What followed was a devastating and rapid decline, and Kirsty was left facing the unimaginable, life without the person she thought she'd spend forever with.This is a story of love, loss, and strength, and I know so many of you will connect deeply with Kirsty's honesty, heartbreak, and quiet resilience.You can find Kirsty on TikTok and Instagram @KirstyFordeFor tickets and more information about our Grief Workshop in Dublin Oct 19th please visit www.griefireland.comFollow us on TikTok @familyflowersonlyhttps://www.tiktok.com/@familyflowersonly?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
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1:43:15
Family Flowers Only with Marie Kealy
This week, I sit down with Marie Kealy, who bravely shares the story of her beautiful daughter, Hannah. At just two years old, Hannah’s life was tragically cut short, and what follows is a conversation that is incredibly raw, heartbreaking, and deeply important.Despite her unimaginable grief, Marie and her husband Denis made the powerful decision to donate Hannah’s organs a choice that has gone on to save the lives of others. In this episode, Marie speaks not only about love and loss, but also about legacy, awareness, and honouring the good that Hannah brought into the world in her short time here.This is a difficult listen at times, but it’s one filled with meaning, hope, and a mother’s fierce desire to make sure her daughter’s life continues to help others.Brought to you by lovecherish.comFor more information on Grief Retreats visit www.griefireland.com
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1:12:32
Family Flowers Only with Caroline Fitzgerald
Most weeks on Family Flowers Only, we sit down with someone who’s experienced an enormous loss, and together we walk through their story of love, grief, and everything in between. But this week, I wanted to take a little pause from the weight of those stories because grief can be so heavy, and I know how much it stirs up for people listening.So I’ve invited someone very special to me on this week, Caroline Fitzgerald. Caroline is an EFT practitioner and an oncology nurse. She works closely with me on our grief retreats, offering incredible support through tapping, breath work and just a beautiful calming presence.Her work has brought her into close contact with grief, trauma, and the way it lives in the body. This conversation is a softer one, a slower one, something to give you a bit of space if you’re carrying your own loss today.Whether you’re grieving or supporting someone who is, I really hope there’s something in this episode that lands gently for you.You can find Caroline here https://www.instagram.com/carolinefitzgerald.ie/
During the pandemic I created a community on Instagram called Grief Ireland. It was following the death of my sister Elaine and her husband Pa. I found Grief to be still a taboo subject, unspoken, and a topic that not many wanted to discuss. Unless of course those who were in "the club no-one wants to be in". But to find those people was difficult. So I went on a mission to open the conversation, to comfort those who mourn, to educate those who don't, to hold space for others to talk about their Grief, Love and Loss and to remember our loved ones and ensure that they would never be forgotten.
Ireland