Literature Review

“It’s an homage”: Noah Wyle quietly sneaked in a tribute in one of the best episodes of ‘The Pitt’ FandomWire; by Arian Cruz; 4/18/25 In the fourth episode of The Pitt titled 10:00 A.M., Noah Wyle’s Dr. Michael ‘Robby’ Robinavitch monitored Mr. Spencer during his final hours while dealing with his own thoughts about the death of his beloved mentor, Dr. Adamson. He remembers the advice he received from him and shared it with the children of the dying patient as they waited for their father to pass. The phrases ‘I love you,’ ‘Thank you,’ ‘I forgive you,’ and ‘Please forgive me’ are words that need to be heard when someone is at the end of their life. Wyle revealed that he took these lessons from palliative care physician and author Ira Byock when he was writing the screenplay. Wyle said these short phrases are profound and hold deep meanings beyond their simplicity. He made sure to weave them in on the show while taking inspiration from his own mother for the emotional scenes. He shared via USA Today: "A very similar event had played out with my mother and her brother when saying goodbye to my grandfather. After she shared this with me, I just said ‘Thank you,’ went right back to my typewriter and wrote the scene. It’s an homage to my mother, my uncle and my grandfather.Editor's and Publisher's note: And we thank you, Dr. Ira Byock, for your profound, immeasurable influence for so many of us--professionally with those we serve, and personally with our own families and friends.

Art meets history, grief, boots and landscapes at First Friday Artwalk Steamboat Pilot & Today, Northwest Colorado; by John Componeschi; 4/3/25  April’s First Friday Artwalk will celebrate artistic diversity and storytelling, both of which form the framework of the Yampa Valley’s creative arts community. [Published 4/3/25, before Fri. 4/4/25] ... An emotionally powerful exhibit entitled “Good Grief” will open at the Depot Art Center, ... The works of Krystal Mackey will be presented in partnership with Northwest Colorado Health’s Hospice program. Mackey, who has a background in design and architecture, created the series as an emotional coping outlet. Her pastel on sanded paper and digital drawing pieces offer the viewer an honest and vulnerable exploration of grief. Selected works were displayed during “Tuesdays with Morrie” at Perry-Mansfield in March. “Grief may be scary, sad and hard to look at,” said Mackey. “But it’s worth it.” Influenced by artists Chagall, Kandinsky, Warhol and Lichtenstein, Mackey’s style combines vibrant color with feeling- and grief-based introspection. The exhibit invites viewers to reflect on whether grief has affected them and if they would benefit from talking about their experiences with it.

When medicine meets theater The Ticker; by Craig Manning; 3/30/25 Munson Healthcare’s newest partner is going to surprise you. Last year, a pair of physicians at Munson set out to help their colleagues improve at one of the most stubbornly difficult parts of the healthcare profession: delivering bad news to patients. That goal led Munson to strike up a partnership with Old Town Playhouse, melding medicine and theater for an innovative course that gives doctors a chance to practice difficult conversations. The doctors play themselves, informing patients about challenging or terminal diagnoses. The Playhouse actors play the patients, reacting differently depending on how their physician approaches the conversation. 

Executive producer Bradley Cooper's film Caregiving to premiere on PBS for nationwide broadcast June 24, streaming begins May 27ABC WHTM-27, Harrisburg, PA; 3/20/25 PBS and WETA Washington, DC, today announced that Caregiving, the documentary created with executive producer Bradley Cooper highlighting the challenges and triumphs of caregiving in America, will premiere Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 9 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings), and on the PBS YouTube Channel. Caregiving will be available to stream on PBS.org and the PBS App beginning Tuesday, May 27, 2025. Award-winning actress Uzo Aduba (The Residence, Painkiller, Orange is the New Black) was also announced as the film's narrator, bringing her own experience as a caregiver for her mother to the project. The two-hour documentary is centered on the personal experiences of caregivers providing for loved ones, and the challenges and triumph they face each day. These stories are interwoven with the broader context of the cultural and economic conditions in the U.S., leading to a care system tipping into crisis. [Continue reading ... including "Bradley Cooper Invites the Public to Share Their Caregiving Story]

Penny Stamps speaker Gary Tyler shares his wrongful conviction story, empowers communities through artThe Michigan Daily; by Talia Varsano; 3/17/25At 5:30 p.m. in the Michigan Theater Thursday night, nearly every seat was full as the audience welcomed Gary Tyler, a falsely convicted felon of first-degree murder turned artist, performer, youth mentor and community leader. ... On October 7, 1974, Tyler was framed and wrongfully convicted by an all-white jury of first-degree murder and sentenced to death at 16 years old. ... At the event, Tyler spoke about his experience as an inmate at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola for nearly 42 years before his release in 2016. Tyler said the trajectory of his life was completely shifted by his wrongful imprisonment. ... [Tyler's story of imprisonment continues.] Tyler began quilting while incarcerated to raise money for the hospice program at Angola, which provided end-of-life care for Louisiana State Penitentiary inmates. Tyler said he was inspired by his mother and grandmother, who were also quilters, as well as the communities surrounding him. ... Tyler said. “When I do quilts, I try to pull everything around me, because I try to build, I try to put everything that I feel, that someone would identify, someone would recognize, understand, in my quilt.” ... Tyler volunteered for the Angola Prison Hospice program for more than 17 years while incarcerated.Editor's note: Pair this with Death and redemption in American prison," posted 2/19/24 about Gary's friend and fellow quilter at Angola Prison Hospice program, Stephen Garner. 

The staging of 'The Story of My Life' at Asbury Memorial filled with serendipitous moments Savannah Morning News, Savannah, GA; by Amy Paige Condon; 3/6/25 ... [Ray] Ellis, a retired music and drama teacher who works now as a caregiver, and fellow church member Dottie Kluttz, a retired hospice nurse, were hanging decorations in Asbury Memorial’s Social Hall. Ellis shared how his dream of producing “The Story of My Life” was back on his mind … A former hospice nurse, Kluttz founded Savannah Hospice’s Story Keeping program in 2001 as a way for people near the end of their lives to share the story of their lives. …  [Click on the title’s link to read the serendipitous, synergistic encounters that unfolded, resulting in shows March 28, 29, 30.] [Upon underwriting for production costs,] Ellis proposed that ticket sales for the musical could serve as a fundraiser for Savannah Hospice’s Story Keeping program and the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research—a nonprofit near and dear to Ellis, who was diagnosed about three years ago with the progressive brain disease that causes tremors, stiffness and balance problems. … Stage and film actor Mark Rand, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s around the same time as Ellis, agreed to portray Thomas to Ellis’s Alvin—even after Rand thought he would never perform again. …

Galleria Dallas partners with Visiting Nurse Association of Texas for March gallery wall exhibit Addison - The Magazine of the North Dallas Corridor; by Erin Uhl; 3/4/25 Each month, Galleria Dallas spotlights an important organization or cause on a Gallery Wall in the center through its Galleria Gives program. During March, the partner organization is the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas. The exhibit, which will be on display beginning Monday, March 3, will feature information on the Visiting Nurse Association’s Meals on Wheels, Hospice Care and Palliative Care programs. ...  “Partnering with Galleria Dallas and its Galleria Gives program gives us the opportunity to connect with thousands of North Texans, sharing our call to action to Give, Learn, Serve,” said Katherine Krause, president and CEO of the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas. ... During the exhibit, the VNA will host several events at Galleria Dallas. The first, Make Cards & Spread Joy, will allow guests to create colorful, one-of-a-kind handmade cards for Meals on Wheels recipients ...

This 1970s TV actor left his entire – surprisingly large – fortune to the state that made him world famous Celebrity Net Worth; by Paula Wilson; 2/12/25 When you pass away, what will be your legacy? ... For 1970s actor Jack Ward, greatness meant leaving behind a gift. A surprisingly large gift that would keep on giving for many years after he was gone, benefitting the people of the state that made him famous… and rich… In 1968, he began appearing as Steve McGarrett on the cop show, "Hawaii 5-0." The popular cop show ran for the next twelve years. ... By the time Jack died in 1998, they had given the [Hawaii Community Foundation] $750,000. ... [Among the foundation's recipients ...] Hospice Hawai'i and St. Francis Hospice have been bolstered by the Lord Fund, .... The stable annual support has helped hospice programs expand outreach and grief counseling services for island residents. 

Shameless star Justin Chatwin had a pivotal Law & Order role in a heartbreaking episode NBC; by Jill Sederstrom; 1/30/25 Attorney Nolan Price found himself at odds with his brother, played by Chatwin, as the siblings were forced to make a painful decision. ... Justin Chatwin — who rose to fame on the hit comedy-drama series Shameless — took on the role of Thomas Price, the brother of Executive Assistant District Attorney Nolan Price, in “The Hardest Thing" episode, which premiered on January 30, 2025. The siblings disagreed about how to handle their father’s failing health. ... The brothers had to decide whether they wanted to put in a feeding tube, which could prolong their dad’s life by a few months, or “manage his pain levels” to “make his passing as comfortable as possible," a doctor explained. 

Community invited to see Edina Thespians' one-act play, 'Wit' Sun Current, Coon Rapids, MN; by Alex Kautzman; 1/20/25Edina High School Thespians are ... looking forward to showing off their hard work to the community in two performances at the Edina Performing Arts Center. ... "Wit" centers on Vivian Bearing, a brilliant poetry professor, as she undergoes an experimental and extremely aggressive chemotherapy treatment. As Vivian undergoes treatment at the hands of impersonal doctors, she discovers that human compassion may be more important than intellectual wit.Editor's note: This Wit telepay is based on the 1999 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Margaret Edson. Its 2001 television drama film was directed by Mike Nichols, written by and starring Emma Thompson. Wit has been used extensively for community and clinical education, fostering conversations about ethics, palliative care/hospice, advance directives, quality of life, and more. Click here for more information. Wit can be streamed via Max and the Max Prime Video Channel.

The year in review: Influential people who died in 2024 AP International - Chicago's Very Own WGN 9; by Bernard McGhee; 12/30/24 ... [Jimmy] Carter was the nation’s longest-lived president when he died Sunday at age 100. But he was just one of many noteworthy people who died in 2024. ... The year also brought the deaths of several rights activists, including the reverends Cecil L. “Chip” Murray and James Lawson Jr.; Dexter Scott King; Hydeia Broadbent; and David Mixner. Business leaders who died this year include: Indian industrialist Ratan Tata, The Home Depot co-founder Bernard “Bernie” Marcus, financier Jacob Rothschild and Daiso retail chain founder Hirotake Yano. ... [Noteworthy] sports figures who died include: basketball players Jerry West and Dikembe Mutombo; baseball players Willie Mays and Fernando Valenzuela; and gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi. The music industry lost a titan in producer Quincy Jones, who died in November. ... Here is a roll call of some noteworthy figures who died in 2024 (cause of death cited for younger people, if available): [Click on the title's link to read more.]

Bringing stories to life, and death: Why animated movies are more than entertainment for kids The Stony Brook Press; 11/19/24 ... Whether it is the parents of the protagonist dying in the first few minutes in Frozen or the epic finale where the villain succumbs to a fatal fate like in The Hunchback of Notre Dame or The Princess and the Frog, it is somewhat of an oxymoron to call animated movies “childish,” as they often deal with serious topics. These movies are not outliers; there are videos dedicated to Disney’s “body count,” which counts how many characters have died in Disney movies. While these films may be magical or fantastical in plot, the moral truths of death and life covered in them often stir conversations about mortality. “Despite the fact that we would love to have people or animals or our loved ones forever, death is inevitable,” explained Bonnie Nickels, co-writer of the study End-of-Life in Disney and Pixar Films: An opportunity for Engaging in Difficult Conversation. “We can use these films as opportunities to introduce our young viewers and our young children to this idea.” To Nickels, these movies can create a dialogue between parents and children about dying and even model coping methods. “The fact that it’s a common feature in these films, kind of reiterates this idea that it’s common in life.” Editor's note: What movies will your intergenerational family watch through the holidays? This article's referenced study--"End-of-Life in Disney and Pixar Films"--describes, "A content analysis of 57 movies resulted in a total of 71 character deaths. For different generations, what reactions do you remember having experienced yourself, or from others? Bambi's mother. The Lion King's Mufasa. Frozen's parents of the two sisters. Coco's family members. Click here for a related article, "15 Saddest Disney Death, Ranked." 

Cemeteries no longer just for the dead: Spaces have a new life of their own USA Today; by Phaedra Trethan; 10/27/24 It all began with Rudolph Valentino. The silent movie star, one of cinema's first sex symbols, is buried in Hollywood Forever Cemetery, one of many celebrities interred there. Showing his movies for the devoted fans who showed up to remember him decades after his sudden and shocking death in 1926 at just 31, the cemetery's operators noticed the gathering grew year after year. Why not host more movie nights, especially in the final resting place of Hollywood royalty: Judy Garland, Cecil B. DeMille, Mickey Rooney, Tyrone Power and Douglas Fairbanks, to name a few, they thought? ... Hollywood Forever isn't the only cemetery offering programs beyond the usual historic tours and talks. Visitors at many U.S. cemeteries can check out movie screenings, market days, concerts, art installations and dance and theater performances. Some are even finding ways to change the conversation around death itself − and bringing life to spaces previously thought of only for the dead. Editor's note: Happy Halloween!