What's in a name? | Edmarc Hospice for Children, Portsmouth

The spirit of a young boy and a determined man lie behind the name of Edmarc Hospice for Children.

The man was Edward Page, a minister at Suffolk Presby-terian Church who was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor in 1978.

And the boy was Marcus Hogge, a young member of his Suffolk congregation who was dying from a neuromuscular disease.

Marcus' parents wanted to bring him home, rather than have him die in the hospital.

There were no children's hospices here at the time, so Page secured some money from the Presbyterian Women's Offering to create one. He worked closely with the Hogge family and his congregation to raise money for the children's service.

When Edmarc Hospice was established in 1978, it was the first hospice in the country designed especially for children.

Not long after, in 1979, Page died at the age of 30. Marcus died the following year at the age of 7.

Afterward, the two families came together to further support the hospice. "Rather than let devastation get the best of them, they created a legacy for Ed and Marcus," said Debbie Stitzer-Brame, executive director of the organization.

The hospice supports families of children with serious illnesses, providing medical, social and emotional services in their homes, support for families and bereavement help after children's deaths.

Edmarc - located at 516 London St. in Portsmouth - has served more than 800 families throughout Hampton Roads since its founding.

Stitzer-Brame said the story behind the hospice's name comes up often with families new to the organization:

"Most folks are intrigued, not just by the name, but the story of the two families who endured such pain and loss and decided to change that into some-thing good."

The organization celebrates its 29th anniversary this week.