Finding Space with Dee Kelly

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Nicola McGlinchey, who many of you may know from her page Finding Glimmers in Grief.
Nicola is a mum to three beautiful children.  Brógan herfirst love, Lorcán her forever baby in the stars, and Éabha, her little glimmer of light in the dark.
Nicola is here today to share Lorcán with us and she does so with such honesty and openness. She talks about the amazing care she received in hospital, the language around grief, parenting after loss, and what finding glimmers really means, not as a way to move on, but as a way to keep going.
Nicola also shares the work she does supporting other bereaved families through grief journals and bereavement packs, and the people and small acts of kindness that sit behind them.
As always, please take care as you listen. This episode includes discussion of baby loss. Support resources are linked in the show notes.

Connect with Nicola:
https://www.instagram.com/finding.glimmers.in.grief/

Connect with:

Strong Mums NI
https://www.instagram.com/strongmumsni/

Wellness Therapy Sleep Blends
https://www.instagram.com/joq87/

Heartstrings NI
https://www.instagram.com/heartstringsni/

White Orchid Candle Co.
https://www.instagram.com/whiteorchidcandleco/

The White Butterfly Foundation
https://www.instagram.com/thewhitebutterfly_foundation/

Footprints: ⁠
https://www.instagram.com/joq87/⁠

Book: Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You

Connect with Me:
Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Findingspace_dk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Resources & Support:

Miscarriage Association of Ireland
Tel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 01 873 5702⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.miscarriage.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Ectopic Pregnancy Ireland 
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ectopicireland.ie ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Féileacáin
Tel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠085 249 6464⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.feileacain.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Ireland
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pregnancyandinfantloss.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sands NI
https://www.sands.org.uk/

White Butterfly Foundation
https://thewhitebutterflyfoundation.co.uk/

Miscarriage Association
https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/

The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
https://ectopic.org.uk/

Simba
https://simbacharity.org.uk/

Gateway Women
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gateway-women.com/bio/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.iacp.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Irish Fertility Counsellors Association
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fertilitycounsellors.ie/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Other Support Groups:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/acute-hospitals-division/woman-infants/bereavement-care/bereavement-support-groups/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Music Credit to Purple Planet 55245402

In today's episode, I’m joined by Tara Farrell and Aislinn Gannon, two women who bring both lived experience and deep professional insight to this conversation.
Tara is the CEO of Longford Women’s Link, an organisation doing powerful work supporting women across so many areas of life. With over 20 years’ experience across community, education, and human rights, Tara brings a strong understanding of the systems meant to support women and where they often fall short.
Aislinn is Chair of the Board of Longford Women’s Link and has spent over three decades working across health, non-profits, and the private sector, leading digital transformation in the UK and Ireland. She shares her own personal journey through pregnancy loss and IVF; navigating the public system, travelling abroad for treatment, and ultimately finding a life she loves today.
This episode is about stories, support, and the gaps so many women fall through, particularly when it comes to pregnancy loss, fertility challenges, and access to care.
Please take care as you listen, as this episode includes discussion of pregnancy loss and medical trauma.
If you would like to learn more about Longford Women's link or access support, you can connect with them here:

Connect with Tara & Aislinn:
Longford Women’s Link: https://www.lwl.ie/

Longford Women’s Link (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/LongfordWomensLink/

Tara Farrell (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/teefarrell/

Aislinn Gannon (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/aislinn-dxhealth/

Connect with Me:
Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Findingspace_dk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Resources & Support:

Miscarriage Association of Ireland
Tel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 01 873 5702⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.miscarriage.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Ectopic Pregnancy Ireland 
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ectopicireland.ie ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Féileacáin
Tel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠085 249 6464⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.feileacain.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Ireland
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pregnancyandinfantloss.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Gateway Women
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gateway-women.com/bio/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.iacp.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Irish Fertility Counsellors Association
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fertilitycounsellors.ie/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Other Support Groups:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/acute-hospitals-division/woman-infants/bereavement-care/bereavement-support-groups/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Music Credit to Purple Planet 55245402

In Episode 23, I’m joined by Vicki Spillane, COO of Crohn’s & Colitis Ireland, an IBD and stoma warrior, and someone who has faced more than her share of heartbreak and resilience.

Vicki was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at just 13, and later underwent stoma surgery at 25, when she was told her fertility might be affected. Over the years, she experienced multiple miscarriages, and then the painful reality of being told that pregnancy would be too high-risk for her health.
She shares what it’s been like to live with this illness from such a young age, the losses she’s carried, and how she’s now turned so much of what she’s lived through into support for others.
This episode is about grief, strength, acceptance, and the different ways care and motherhood can show up in a life.
Please take care as you listen, as this episode includes discussion of pregnancy loss and medical trauma.
If you would like to learn more about Crohn’s & Colitis Ireland, access support, or find upcoming community events, you can connect with them here:
Website:
https://crohnscolitis.ie/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/crohnscolitisireland/
Linktree (all supports & links):
https://linktr.ee/crohnscolitisireland
Upcoming Events & Member Supports:
https://crohnscolitis.ie/members/events/
If you are living with IBD or supporting someone who is, I hope these links are helpful.
Connect with Me:
Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Findingspace_dk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Resources & Support:

Miscarriage Association of Ireland
Tel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 01 873 5702⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.miscarriage.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Ectopic Pregnancy Ireland 
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ectopicireland.ie ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Féileacáin
Tel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠085 249 6464⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.feileacain.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Ireland
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pregnancyandinfantloss.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Gateway Women
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gateway-women.com/bio/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.iacp.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Irish Fertility Counsellors Association
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fertilitycounsellors.ie/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Other Support Groups:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/acute-hospitals-division/woman-infants/bereavement-care/bereavement-support-groups/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Music Credit to Purple Planet 55245402

This is part two of my conversation with Megan from 412 fertility.  

In this episode, we continue talking about Megan’s journey, the testing she went through, her endometriosis diagnosis, and looking back on the symptoms she experienced along the way.

Megan also explains what POTS is, and shares what recovery has been like after endo surgery.
We also talk about boundaries, relationships, the support that can make a difference, and some of the things that have shifted her life recently.
Please note: There are mentions of fertility struggles, pregnancy, and loss so do listen gently and take care of yourself as needed.

You can find Megan and her work here:
Website: ⁠https://412fertility.com/⁠
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/412fertility/⁠
TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@412fertility⁠

Connect with Me:
Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Findingspace_dk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Resources & Support:

Miscarriage Association of Ireland
Tel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 01 873 5702⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.miscarriage.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Ectopic Pregnancy Ireland 
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ectopicireland.ie ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Féileacáin
Tel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠085 249 6464⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.feileacain.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Ireland
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pregnancyandinfantloss.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Gateway Women
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gateway-women.com/bio/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.iacp.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Irish Fertility Counsellors Association
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fertilitycounsellors.ie/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Other Support Groups:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/acute-hospitals-division/woman-infants/bereavement-care/bereavement-support-groups/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Music Credit to Purple Planet 55245402

This episode is broken into two parts.
In part one, I’m joined by Megan, a fertility nurse and founder of 412 Fertility, who shares a little of herself with us, her work supporting others while trying to conceive, setting up her own business during that time, and the support she now offers through it.
Megan also opens up about her own journey with IVF, and learning along the way that she has Hashimoto’s, borderline PCOS, and, more recently, diagnoses of POTS and endometriosis.
This is an honest, gentle conversation about trying to hold both roles, patient and professional, while navigating uncertainty, disappointment, and hope.
Part two of this conversation will be available soon, where we talk more about her journey, boundaries, and self-care.

Please note: There are mentions of fertility struggles, pregnancy, and loss so do listen gently and take care of yourself as needed.

You can find Megan and her work here:
Website: https://412fertility.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/412fertility/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@412fertility

Connect with Me:
Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Findingspace_dk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Resources & Support:

Miscarriage Association of Ireland
Tel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 01 873 5702⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.miscarriage.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Ectopic Pregnancy Ireland 
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ectopicireland.ie ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Féileacáin
Tel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠085 249 6464⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.feileacain.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Ireland
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pregnancyandinfantloss.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Gateway Women
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gateway-women.com/bio/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.iacp.ie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Irish Fertility Counsellors Association
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fertilitycounsellors.ie/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Other Support Groups:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/acute-hospitals-division/woman-infants/bereavement-care/bereavement-support-groups/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
 
Music Credit to Purple Planet 55245402