December 11th.

Friends,
   Our managing director at Milwaukee Rep, Dawn Helsing Wolters, sent this out last week.
Love,
Jim
TO:  Milwaukee Rep Staff and Company, Trustees, and Honorary Trustees

Over the past two weeks, there has been a lot of discussion about how The Rep can celebrate and honor the memory of Rose Pickering.  Thanks to everyone who contributed their ideas.  On Wednesday, Jim Pickering and I met to outline a plan, which I would like to share with all of you:

1.       We have posted a small tribute in the lobby of the Pabst Theater that will remain during the run of A Christmas Carol.  In addition, we have a tribute featured on our website.

2.       We are creating a 4-page program insert celebrating Rose that features photos from some of her iconic roles and a couple of quotes from the recent Journal-Sentinel article.  Our plan is to insert programs during the remaining run of Next to Normal (beginning asap).

3.       During the run of To Kill a Mockingbird, we would like to create a lobby exhibit of iconic Rose photos and perhaps a few memorable costume pieces and/or props.  Please speak with Lisa Fulton if you would like to help with this display (Jim Guy and Holly Payne – I know we’d value your input).

4.       We will host a memorial celebration later in the spring (Jim wants to stress the word “celebrate”).  At his suggestion, we will look for a Monday after the opening of Othello to laugh and remember together.  Details coming soon! 

5.       A group of Jim and Rose’s neighbors who are Rep patrons have come forward with special donations in Rose’s memory.  After consulting with Jim about the most appropriate way to use these funds in a way that would be meaningful to Rose, we are establishing the Rose Pickering Fund that will benefit our Intern Program.  This recognizes Rose’s years of mentoring young actors and theater artists and how she treasured the opportunity to do so.  Anyone wishing to contribute to this fund may do so online, by sending a check (“Rose Pickering Fund” in the memo line), or by speaking a Development staff member. Jim has also suggested that donations be made in Rose’s memory to the Wisconsin Humane Society.  https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/WisconsinHumaneSociety/OnlineGiving.html.  While Rose was involved with many animal rescue groups, after further thought, Jim felt that she would most appreciate the funds benefiting animals in our local community.

I know how much Jim has appreciated the outpouring of support from his Rep family and from the legions of friends and fans among our patrons.  It has been incredibly moving for me to see how many lives Rose touched with her talent and passion, both on and off stage. 

Dawn

In Memoriam

People have been asking where they might send donations in Rose's name:

Wisconsin Humane Society

4500 W. Wisconsin Ave.

Milwaukee, Wi  53208

http://wihumane.org

John Shearin sent this verse. Anyone else got some?

“Rose of all Roses, Rose of all the world!

You, too, have come where the dim tides are hurled

Upon the wharves of sorrow, and heard ring

The bell that calls us on; the sweet far thing.”--WB Yeats

Rose rests in peace.

11/25/2011: Rose passed away quite peacefully in her sleep last night. A very sad thing, but at the same time a truly merciful release.

Bad News

Since Monday evening when the doctor wrote the order and the nurse and social worker did their assessments and the equipment was delivered and assembled I have been trying to figure out a soft way to report this news. I can't. Rose has been entered into Wheaton Franciscan Home Hospice.

Here Comes September

Friends,
   A couple of months ago two good friends, David Cecsarini and Edward Morgan, made me an offer I really didn't want to refuse. They asked me to join the cast of The Exonerated, a play whose production this fall will open the brand new space to be occupied by Next Act Theatre Co.  I thanked them heartily for the thought and said I would be able to do it only if Rose were capable of looking after herself for extended periods of time. After twice-weekly sessions of outpatient speech- and physical-therapy with the excellent professionals of Wheaton Franciscan she has rehabbed to an extent which will allow me to begin rehearsals to in a couple of weeks. If her improvement continues on this trajectory I will, following the Exonerated  run (10/6-10/30) join Milwaukee Rep for three productions, beginning with A Christmas Carol.
   As you can probably imagine things around home are more and more upbeat, though Rose's stamina and general health are still a bit dicey, owing largely to the combination of necessary medications she ingests every day. She is capable of participating more and more in basic day-to-day activities (the dogs are on the receiving end of a bit more disciplining, for one example), and her hair is now much longer and thicker than mine.. (Hold for laugh) Not saying a lot, I know, but a welcome sign of progress. 'One day at a time' remains our mantra. As my brother Dave reminds us, 'Don't get to high on the good news, or too low on the bad.'
  Thank you again for all the prayers, good wishes, and chanting. You know who you are! Be well.

Love,
Jim&Rose

Summer Solstice

Friends,
   Yesterday (6/22) our Visiting Nurse/Case Manager (at the direction of our family doc) discharged Rose from the Home Health Care we had been receiving from Wheaton Franciscan. We are grateful for their ministrations--medical and therapeutic--and have now matriculated to outpatient status. Rose is getting around much better (the wheelchair has become furniture now, not a mandatory conveyance) with her walker. Her muscle tone, balance, stamina, and confidence are greatly improved. Cognitively she is sharper, more precise, and capable of concentration and focus to a degree which, as recently as three weeks ago I frankly had not imagined she could achieve so soon if at all. She has worked very hard at this and been helped greatly by the professionals at W-F.She has also been discharged by the therapist providing treatment for the lymphedema she developed last winter, as that condition is almost completely reduced. Things, at least at this particular juncture, are looking up.
   This is the sort of good news I have been waiting so long to post here. Please pass the word to others who are curious. And, thank you very much for your good thoughts, prayers, vibes, and exhortations.
Love,
Jim
p.s. We welcome comments. Please click on the word 'comments' below the photo.-jp

(Picasso at the Lapin Agile.)

The latest chapter.

Friends,

   On Tuesday, April 26th Rose came home. We have set up a program of Home Health Care which involves a visiting nurse, a nurse's aid, and a physical therapist, and are in the process of evaluations. When they are complete we will know how often we'll be visited by these folks. We are attending to Rose's limited mobility (a shout-out here to Bob S. who installed all sorts of helpful grab bars, ramps, railings, etc.) in order to get her out of her wheelchair as often and for as long a time as possible. She is also receiving special therapy to combat the swelling (lymphedema, technically) incurred as a result of the long past chemotherapy and a broken elbow. It is on the mend, as are a number of collateral ailments, many of which stem from the aggressive radiation treatment she underwent in March. The effects of such procedures have a 'slingshot' nature, and last a long time.
   I have taken a sort of compassionate leave/sabbatical from both the Rep, and Optimist Theatre in order to remain the full-time care-giver, and am not sure when my acting career will resume. I have withdrawn from several other theatre-related activities as well.
   We thank all the people who have sent cards and good wishes through other media. In accordance with sage advice from many quarters we are really trying to concentrate on one day at a time.
Love,

Jim

A Step

All,
   I have delayed publishing this piece of news because I wanted to make sure that Rose's recent progress is real. I can tell you now that on Wednesday (3/30*) her physical and occupational therapists thought it possible for her to do her therapy disattached from the oxygen tank she's been tethered to for the past four weeks. When she finished stretching and walking her oxygen readings were in the normal zone, and have remained so ever since. This, as you can imagine, is most encouraging. It represents a big step toward her returning home.
   One day at a time....
Love,
Jim
*My birthday, actually--thus, a terrific present! Thanks to everyone for the happy birthday wishes.

From The Cherry Orchard, 2009, Mke Rep.

Post-RadioSurgery

Friends,
   I have delayed posting, hoping for better tidings. At this point I can only say that things are not good, but they could be worse.
   Briefly: As a result of diagnosis and treatment during two brief hospitalizations following the first course of her radiation, Rose is currently on oxygen and in a 'Sub-Acute Care' facility where she is receiving therapy with a view toward returning home in several weeks. She had RadioSurgery (the treatment which completes radiation therapy) on the 14th, and the radio-oncologist who performed it told us it went very well. Given the 'sling-shot' nature of radiation's effects, it will take a while for her to recuperate, especially from so intense a bombardment, and she is in very good hands for doing that. She is inhibited from quick rehabilitation also by having to deal with a fractured left elbow (repaired on 2/21).
   In order to take care of her I will no longer be performing in either Death of a Salesman at the Rep or 12th Night for Optimist Theatre's Shakespeare in the Park. I much regret that, but there it is.
   Thank you all for your good wishes. I hope for better news next time.
Love,
Jim

Waiting and Watching

Friends,
   On Wednesday (2/16) Rose finished the first part of her radiation treatment--the 'full brain' radiation. For the next couple weeks we will be waiting for it to have taken effect completely. Then the imaging, calibrating, and mapping will begin, in preparation for the second part, the 'radiosurgery,' scheduled for mid-March. So much is unknown at this point. I wish we had more concrete news to relate--some actual good news would be particularly nice--but we don't. So this, I fear, is a rather perfunctory update. Thanks again for all the good vibes coming our way, articulated in whatever way they may be.
Love,
J&R

Stumped.

Okay, then. Now what?

Friends,

   We are halfway through the generalized radiation treatments. Meds have been reduced.  Motor skills are returning--high fives delivered Sunday night when the Packers scored, navigating the place without a walker, even a foray upstairs--so the inflammation is being reduced.

   Overheard one recent evening at bedtime, "Well, I'll just get better. That'll fucking show'em." The game-face is back on. Keep shaking those pom-poms, okay?

Love,

Jim

p.s. I may, inadvertently, have disabled comments. I didn't mean to. We welcome them.-jp 

...speaking of game-faces...

A SEVERE SETBACK FOR ROSE

Friends,

   During the brief period of time since I deleted the original "Pickering's Posts" blog (on WordPress) Rose has learned that her lung cancer has metastasized to her brain. She is currently undergoing a course of whole-brain radiation which will be followed by evaluations, 'mapping,' and radiation surgery--a non-invasive procedure which involves extremely precise radiation aimed specifically at  two small tumors. She is at home now after a 3-night stay at the hospital.

   The purpose of this blog is to keep our friends and other interested people informed and up-to-date on her progress through this latest challenge. We are grateful for all the support and good wishes you  have conveyed to us in the past, and we look forward to hearing from you again.

Love,

Jim

p.s. Facebook group Team Rose 2011 may be found at

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_191575254193772&ap=1