SHARE and Sharing HOPE

Each year, thousands of families leave the hospital without their child — with empty arms, broken hearts and a love for their deceased child that will always remain.

Edward-Elmhurst Health offers a Perinatal Bereavement Program with a dedicated, multidisciplinary staff of nurses, social workers and chaplains. The team is trained to provide family support in the event of a perinatal loss.

Families can also receive support through the SHARE Program, a local and national organization that serves and supports those who are touched by the loss of a child through miscarriage, stillbirth or early infant death.

  • SHARE is for parents who have experienced ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth or early infant death.
  • Sharing HOPE (Having Optimistic Pregnancy Expectations) is for parents who have experienced a loss and are now pregnant or considering pregnancy.

For more information about SHARE, please email Susan.Villa@EEHealth.org.

SHARE meetings

We’re pleased to offer both in-person and online meeting options. This policy may be revisited based on the changing situation.

Online Meeting (via Webex)
Meets the first Tuesday of each month from 8 – 9:30pm
To attend the SHARE online program, please email Susan.Villa@EEHealth.org for the link.

In-person Meetings
Second and fourth Tuesday of each month
Edward Hospital (North Entrance)
Education Center, 3rd Floor
7:15-9:15 pm

Third Thursday of each month
Elmhurst Hospital
Birch Room
7:15-9:15 pm

Sharing HOPE meetings

Both in-person and online meeting options are now being offered. This policy may be revisited as the situation evolves.

Online Meeting (via Webex)
Meets the fourth Thursday of each month from 8 – 9:30 pm
To attend the Sharing HOPE online program, please email Susan.Villa@EEHealth.org for the link.

In-person Meetings
Second Thursday of each month
Edward Hospital (North Entrance)
Education Center, 3rd Floor
7:15-9:15 pm

If you are more comfortable receiving support one-on-one, a parent who has experienced a similar loss will call you upon request. 

SHARE events

We are pleased to be able to host in-person events once again. Please see the event list below for details. Questions? More information will be available through SHARE’s closed Facebook group or can be obtained by emailing Susan.Villa@EEHealth.org. 

SHARE Angel Garden Luminary Ceremony
Saturday, May 4, 2024 – 7:30 p.m.
South Lobby of Edward Hospital

SHARE Wings of Hope Angel Garden: Annual Blessing and Butterfly Release
Tuesday, June 4, 2024 – 6 p.m.
Wings of Hope Angel Garden at Edward Hospital (adjacent to the ER)

SHARE 20th Annual Walk to Remember
Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024
Check-in: 8:30 a.m., Memorial Service: 9:30 a.m.,
Walk begins: 10:15 a.m.
Riverwalk Grand Pavilion, Naperville

SHARE Service of Remembrance
Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, 7 - 9 p.m.
Our Saviour’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Naperville
More information to come. 

SHARE Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support, Inc.
Get more information on the National SHARE Office 

Contribute to SHARE

Help SHARE continue its mission of touching lives, healing hearts and giving hope at both Edward and Elmhurst Hospitals.

Edward Foundation and SHARE

Contributions to the Edward Foundation SHARE Program help fund support groups, counseling services, activities and events, education and bereavement training, resource and reference materials, special projects and program supplies — tools to help guide families through the grieving process.

Wings of Hope Angel Garden

Funds will also be directed toward additions and upkeep to the Wings of Hope Angel Garden, a place families can visit year-round for remembrance and reflection.

Donate to the garden or purchase a commemorative butterfly

A Walk to Remember

The annual A Walk to Remember event raises funds that are vitally needed to support SHARE's mission to provide support to families experiencing the death of a child, raise public awareness and promote research.

Learn more about A Walk to Remember

Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Foundation and SHARE

In March 2018, the long-time Edward SHARE program expanded to Elmhurst Hospital, making it available to grieving parents who live in Elmhurst and nearby communities. To help grow this program, the Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Foundation has begun a new fund for the SHARE group at Elmhurst. Contributions will help support this group, along with counseling services, resource and educational materials, and special projects.

Supporting SHARE at Elmhurst

Funds donated will be directed to new projects, such as special equipment (immediate need) and a future Wings of Hope Angel Garden that will provide a peaceful place for families to visit at Elmhurst Hospital.

Have a question about SHARE funding opportunities? Please contact the Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Foundation at 331.221.4483.

Donate to SHARE at Elmhurst