Linda Oconnell

Background

About Linda Oconnell

I bring a unique perspective of the lived experience which enables me to understand that feeling of loss experienced by parents and siblings. I am committed to using my experience, skills, and qualifications to benefit other parents and families and I feel this will ultimately benefit the families engaging with Aoibheann’s Pink Tie, National Children’s Cancer Charity. My role is varied and I wear many hats, but offering emotional and social support for children, parents and their families along with extended families and local communities following a cancer diagnosis is my primary role. I am committed to using my experience, skills, and qualifications to benefit other parents and families and I feel this will ultimately benefit the families engaging with Aoibheann’s Pink Tie, National Children’s Cancer Charity. I understand the need for the provision of care from the day of diagnosis, during treatment, during end-of-life care and for several years after treatment or following the death of a child. I have been responsible for steering Aoibheann’s Pink Tie through many changes. I have been responsible for the provision of special days for children in treatment, children who have relapsed, children who are end of life (Rainbow Day) and their families. I designed, created and implemented a Memory Day to enable bereaved families to come together to remember their children and I also brought about the remembrance balloon for the birthday and anniversary of the children who have died. To help alleviate the stress of having to travel for long periods during treatment I was responsible for the provision of accommodation for families. I have established an excellent working relationship with the multidisciplinary team at St. John’s Ward with whom I have daily contact in relation to the needs of children and their families. I also liaise with the various charities providing support to Children with cancer. In addition to my experience working with children and their families, my academic qualifications inform and enhance my work with children and their families. Last year I completed an “MSc in Loss and Bereavement”, my dissertation title was “Understanding the needs of siblings when a child in their family is diagnosed with childhood cancer. How can we as a charity provide supports for siblings”. My interest in supporting children and their siblings is further informed by a “Professional certificate in Children and Loss” and the “Climb” program along with a course in Writing for the Future.