VALDOSTA – Hospice of South Georgia and the Langdale Hospice House got the call and they answered. 

Community members have expressed a need for support while grieving the death of a child, according to hospice staff.

A first for the organization, Experiencing the Loss of a Child is scheduled for 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Saturday, May 25, at 2263 Pineview Drive.

The free event is open to anyone who’s lost a child of any age, including as an adult.

“Even though we have ongoing grief support groups, we wanted to give a forum to address the specific type of loss of losing a child,” said Sherry Tierney, hospice bereavement coordinator.

Tierney will start the discussion by providing the basics of grieving and the experiences involved with it. Two women who have lost children will be guest speakers.

“They’re going to be able to provide some insight about how they’ve been able to cope with this kind of loss because a lot of people find this specific kind of loss unmanageable and obviously it’s quite devastating for people,” Tierney said.

Her hope for the event is that guests will find support by meeting people who have suffered the same kind of loss, she said.

She said she hopes they receive education about how grief affects a person cognitively, emotionally and physically.

“A lot of people go through sleeping and appetite disturbances early on,” Tierney said. “With intense grief, people can even have physical pain. Cognitive effects can be confusion, forgetfulness (and) feeling disoriented.”

She said a person may even forget the loved one has died and may try to call them.

Light refreshments will be provided during the forum. Organizers ask guests RSVP by Thursday, May 23, by calling (229) 433-7039.