Grief Encounters is a weekly podcast series that looks at an issue that affects us all and yet remains so difficult to talk about: grief. Hosted by Venetia Quick and Sasha Hamrogue, the pair are hoping to open up the conversation around loss and create a modern platform for people to share their own experiences, and start open dialogue around the subject of death and all that comes with it.
Stephen Teap’s life changed forever in July 2017, as he lost his wife Irene to cervical cancer. Their story – which is known to many across Ireland, is made more difficult to digest because it could, and should have been prevented. After two false negative smear tests in 2010 and 2013, Irene was diagnosed with stage two cancer in 2015 and died two years later at the age of 35, leaving behind their boys Oscar and Noah.
In the wake of Irene’s death, Stephen has been catapulted into the public eye as his search for answers and accountability continues. Much of his life is now dedicated to advocacy around the Cervical Check Scandal, as he looks for safeguards to prevent this devastation from hitting other families in future. He is one of the founders (alongside Vicky Phelan & Lorraine Walsh) of 221+, a support service for patients and families affected by scandal.
In the interview, Stephen speaks in detail about Irene’s inner strength throughout the whole process, as she vowed to not let the cancer take control of her life.
Like many of our guests on the podcast, Stephen has managed to channel his inner grief into something constructive such as his advocacy work. He spoke to Sasha & Venetia about how 10 years down the line, when Oscar and Noah are old enough to process their mums death and the tragic nature of it, he needs to be able to say that he went looking for answers.
221+ was set up in July 2018 following the significant revelations related to the CervicalCheck screening programme and the subsequent ongoing controversy.
The 221+ Group’s Steering Committee comprises a number of patient representatives directly affected by the scandal (Vicky Phelan, Stephen Teap and Lorraine Walsh) and by a number of patient groups (the Marie Keating Foundation, the Irish Cancer Society and the Irish Patient Association), with a view to providing structured support and services for these women and their families.
If you’re looking for a safe haven to express how you feel, share articles, photos, memories and more, join the Grief Encounters Facebook Group. A place for support, compassion and empathy for those grieving.
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