Charity donations, pictures, and other links

I have set up a facility to make donations to 'Save the Children' in memory of Rosie, which you can access through the following link: https://www.justgiving.com/rosiesmithgillespie. It only takes a few short steps to make a difference.

I have also updated Rosie's web site (http://rosinasmithgillespie.blogspot.com/), creating links to new sites:
- Readings and music from the service held on 16 May
- A photo album
- Sharing memories of Rosie

A mass will be held for Rosie in Lima, Peru, on Wednesday 6 June at the Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Carmen (also known as "Carmelitas"), which is the local church our family in Lima attends, and which Rosie also attended throughout her life. Friends and family will be joining us, and I will be flying to Lima to be there.


Aleyn

Rosie’s funeral service will take place at l’Eglise St Robert, Route du Lac, Coppet on Wednesday 16th May at 3:30pm and afterwards there will be light refreshments in the hall beside the church.

St Robert is on the Route Swiss.  If you are coming from Geneva it is past Coppet on the right hand side of the road at the lake side about 1 km outside the village.  If you are coming from Nyon it is just after the second turning to Founex on the left hand side. You can find further details on this website: http://www.cath-vd.ch/-Paroisse-de-Coppet-.html

As a tribute to the care Rosie showed for others, we would appreciate that, instead of flowers, donations be made to the ‘Save the Children’ fund. In order to facilitate this, we plan to set up a specific tribute fund in Rosie’s name which we will communicate to you shortly.

Aleyn

aleyn@alum.mit.edu

mobile (swiss): +41 (0)79 9569 809

Rosie passed away peacefully today, Thursday May 10th, at 7pm. I was with her at the moment her heart stopped beating, and she looked very tranquil and wasn't in any pain.

While Rosie had been sleeping for most of the past days, she would at times wake and let us know she was ok. She was well accompanied night and day for the past week. During the day, though she slept, we spoke to her and played some of the music she liked.

Thank you, on behalf of Rosie, for all the lovely messages you posted here as well as sent by email. I haven't been able to respond yet to all of them, but did convey them to Rosie. Please do feel free to continue sharing messages and anecdotes.

Aleyn

Rosie has been sleeping peacefully most of the last few days. She has still enjoyed listening to gentle music - Pavarotti, Chabuca Granda, and various italian favourites (Mamma, Volare, and others). We have also been reading to her a bit, as well as some singing. Though she seems to sleep through most of this, I think she can hear at least some of it, and enjoys it.

A couple of days ago she really enjoyed eating some mango that Robbie and Yuying brought over from home (lots if "mmmm's"!) This was nice to see as she hasn't eaten since then.

Rosie has signalled to me that she isn't in any pain and is comfortable. She is always being well cared for, and we have been accompanying her overnight as well.

Thanks again for the several messages of support and wishes you have been sending, which I have conveyed to Rosie. I often tell her that all her friends are thinking of her, and I know she appreciates it.

Aleyn

Over the past days Rosie has continued to get more tired and weak, however she is still making the most of each day. We have finished the ‘microrrelatos’ book, and last night we played her favourite Pavarotti songs.

I have been staying with her overnight for a few days, to check things are OK. She is very well cared for and last night slept very well. I can attest to the concert of mooing cows and chirping birds that greet her each dawn!

Over the past few days, Rosie has been quite tired and sleepy. Nevertheless, during periods of activity, we have been reading materials from Ecolint Spanish students kindly provided by Sonia and Hortensia: the 8th edition of "Desayuno con Poemas" (an anothology of poems selected by 12th and 13th grade students), and the latest publication of student 'microrrelatos', "Brevíssimo 2". We have completed the poetry anthology, and are halfway through the microrrelatos. Rosie has enjoyed listening to all of these. We now have a well-stocked supply of reading materials which we've started making a dent in.

On Sunday we smuggled into the clinic some 'empanadas' courtesy of the Albatros Spanish bookstore (who hosted a wonderful meeting with the author Antonio Orejudo on Saturday evening which I attended, representing Rosie). See www.libreria-albatros.ch for more information on the bookstore and what they do (I'm unashamedly plugging it here as Rosie, her colleagues, and Ecolint have cooperated a lot with them - this includes the publication of the "Brevíssimo" series). So we managed to insert some latin flavours into the (very good) clinic menu.

We enjoyed our first peak at summer weather today, after a few days of rain (which Rosie actually enjoys "because it is life-giving"). We have had a clear sky and view of the alps to enjoy the setting sun.

Today we have been reading a bit of poetry: Borges, Cesar Vallejo,  Garcia Lorca, Mario Benedetti (thanks to Amazon/iPhone). Rosie has also enjoyed reading the messages, emails and cards she has received, as well as looking at photos.

Rosie has had her usual little strolls in the corridor, and is sleeping a lot. There has been no apparent significant change in her situation since the last post.

Rosie has enjoyed hearing the many messages and emails (as well as looking at photos), and remembering the happy and funny anecdotes you shared. She thanks you for all of those and sends her love.

We have haven't been able to walk outside much in the past couple of days due to the rain and colder weather, but were able to spot a lovely rainbow from her bedroom window. I includes some photos of this below (including some of which I ran down to the lake to take), as well as a couple of others.

She is still very tired, and sleeps a lot. Overall, while things are relatively stable, one can see she is gradually getting weaker. Unfortunately that's the way things go - however we are still managing to have some laughs (many of which are generated by the messages!), and taking each day as it comes. She is being given great care, and her pain is being very well managed (she is essentially pain-free).

Aleyn

Rosie has remained relatively stable, though still tired and getting a bit weaker. We nevertheless managed to catch some sun rays outside at the end of the day. It's been a while since I've seen this type of spring transition: a bit sunshine, some rain, and a dusting of snow on the Jura.

We have just realised how easy it is to download music onto an iPhone, so I'm expecting we'll be creating a playlist of songs with Rosie over the coming week, which we'll be playing on Alison's speakers. Certainly one of the old favorites: 'Cracklin' Rosie' by Neil Diamond.

Yuying also visited over the weekend, so we had a nearly-full house.

We enjoyed some spring sunshine on Wednesday afternoon. The farm located on the grounds of La Ligniere is bustling - the cows are now out of the barn, grazing in the fields, and this season's crop is beginning to sprout.

Rosie's condition is relatively stable, though she is often tired. She still soldiers on with a gentle schedule of physiotherapy on the cycle machine, and a bit of walking. She sends her love to all.

http://rosinasmithgillespie.blogspot.com/2012/04/rosie-has-now-been-at-la-clinic-for.html#comment-form

Rosie has now been at La Lignière clinic for almost two weeks. It's a lovely place, with gardens in front and forest at the back. It is about 500m from the Lac Leman, of which Rosie's room has a view. 

Over the past few days, Rosie has regularly taken strolls in the grounds and has enjoyed the spring sun (when it appears). While Rosie is not able to eat very much, and is therefore getting weaker, many other aspects of her well being have improved (including pain, which is under control). The nurses are great and (as usual) have taken a fondness for Rosie. 

Rosie's sister, Anita, arrived last Friday and is visiting for 10 days.