Show Notes
In this powerful episode, Irishman Dean shares the story of his daughter, Charli, his and his wife Emily’s angel baby. From their life in Chicago to the joy of expecting their first child during COVID, Dean reflects on love, hope, and heartbreak. At their 20-week scan, doctors discovered that Charli had hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), a rare, severe condition where she was missing the left side of her heart. With limited options and no family nearby, Dean and Emily faced an impossible choice. They ultimately made the selfless decision to terminate the pregnancy for medical reasons (TFMR), choosing to bear the pain themselves so Charli would never suffer. Dean speaks with raw honesty about love, loss, and the strength it takes to be a dad through unimaginable grief, a moving reminder that a dad’s love endures beyond loss.
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In this episode, host Peter is joined by Nina to share the story of her son Enzo, who passed away from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Nina opens up about the morning she lost Enzo, the shock and guilt that followed, and the six-month wait for answers. She speaks honestly about grieving while living in a hub, navigating pregnancy after loss, and supporting Enzo’s older brother through the heartbreak of losing his little brother. Nina also shares the beautiful ways she keeps Enzo’s memory alive, from his colourful funeral to the special meaning behind his fox symbol and her connection with the Little Duck Foundation. Above all, this is a conversation about Enzo himself, his laugh, his personality, and the love that will always remain. This is Enzo’s story, told by the mum who will never stop carrying him in her heart. #DadsDontCry #SIDS #BabyLoss #ChildLoss
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In this episode of Dads Don’t Cry, host Peter is joined by Ciaran, who shares the heartbreaking story of his son Louis and his own experiences of grief.
In this episode of Dads Don’t Cry, host Peter is joined by Dylan, who shares the heartbreaking story of losing his own dad, followed closely by the loss of his first son, Hunter.
The podcast is now airing as a special series on RTÉ Radio 1, with new episodes broadcast every Wednesday at 10:00pm. Missed the live broadcast? You can catch up from around 10:45pm each Wednesday by visiting RTÉ.ie/dadsdontcry or listening on the RTÉ Radio Player. This podcast feed will continue to be home to the original Dads Don't Cry episodes, featuring honest conversations with bereaved parents, healthcare professionals and experts. If you're new here, there's a wealth of episodes waiting for you, and I'll continue to share updates here from time to time - so make sure you hit Follow to be notified. You can also keep up to date on Instagram @dadsdontcrypodcast, and if you'd like to share your thoughts or feedback, I'd love to hear from you at [email protected]. Thank you so much for your continued support. It means the world, and I hope you'll join me for the new series on RTÉ Radio 1.