St. Joseph’s Breese Share Group
The annual perinatal memorial service sponsored by the St. Joseph-Breese Women and Infants Center, along with the Share Walk for Remembrance & Hope in Fairview Heights, will be part of the discussion at the Tuesday, Sept. 11, Share meeting set for 7 p.m. in the hospital Board Room.
Share is sponsored by the hospital’s Women and Infants Center (WIC) and is for parents and families who have lost a child.
The WIC perinatal service is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, in the hospital Cafeteria with registration requested by Friday, Oct. 12. The Share Walk for Remembrance & Hope will be Saturday, Oct. 13, at Lake View Memorial Gardens in Fairview Heights.
“Families often find it helpful to remember the children they have lost but some may find it too difficult,” said Karen Gebke of Aviston, co-host of the hospital Share group with husband Scott. “It’s entirely up to the individual and the family what they want to do and how they want to remember.”
Attending a support group and discussing the various issues may be painful but could be beneficial.
“It can almost be too much for anyone who has lost a child but talking and meeting with others who have gone through a similar situation may be beneficial,” she said. “Being reminded of that loss—and talking about it—may be the hardest thing in the world but it really does help.”
Share generally meets the second Tuesday of each month. Everyone is welcome—not just parents who delivered at St. Joseph’s in Breese—and there is no restriction on how long ago the loss occurred or how long someone can attend. There is no charge.
For more information, contact Karen Gebke at 228-7665, 709-2878 or sharestjosephs@yahoo.com. For information on the WIC perinatal service, contact 526-5464 or hessenpreis@sjb.hshs.org.