“I will be grateful to her for the rest of my life. My children say the same thing,” Linda said about Dr. Veera Motashaw who helped her husband, Larry, during his battle with cancer. “God sent an angel to care for me,” Larry said as he began treatment with University Palliative Care.
On October 21, 2022, Linda and Larry celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. “That was the same day we got the diagnosis,” Linda said. “Stage 4 pancreatic cancer that had spread to his liver.” During a routine physical a couple of weeks earlier, everything went well. But after Larry mentioned that he had a little pain beneath his belly button, the doctor scheduled an ultrasound. After several additional scans, his cancer was diagnosed. “I now know that no symptoms with this type of cancer is typical. That’s why it’s called a silent killer,” Linda said.
Larry immediately began treatment at UT Medical Center. “It was rough. We made 43 trips from Powell over four and a half months,” Linda said. Early on, Larry was weakened by chemotherapy-induced hiccups that were constant over a four-day period. Then, a nurse practitioner referred Linda and Larry to Dr. Motashaw. “She did a manipulation with her hands on his diaphragm. It stopped the hiccups and he never had another,” Linda said. A week later, Dr. Motashaw and her team took over managing Larry’s pain, anxiety, nausea and side effects from the medications.
Dr. Motashaw is a hospice and palliative care physician. Like many who have never dealt with a serious illness before, Linda wasn’t familiar with palliative care. “I didn't even know it was an option,” she said. “What led us to it was Larry’s comfort zone. By that, I mean he could find no comfort.” By concentrating on quality of life, palliative care is designed to enhance a patient's current treatment and provide relief from pain. Dr. Motashaw worked with Larry’s oncologist, radiologist and other specialists to prolong his life as the disease rapidly progressed.
In March 2023, Larry wanted to go to Florida to see friends, as he and Linda had done every winter for years. Linda was skeptical. “I said, ‘Larry, I’m unsure about this. You’re awfully sick,’” Linda recounted. But Dr. Motashaw put her at ease and encouraged her that she should take him on this trip. So they headed to St. Augustine Beach for a week, along with a nurse Linda hired to travel with them. “Our friends in Florida gave him a huge welcoming party,” she said. “He was so weak, but they were so great to him.”
A couple of weeks after they got home, Linda and Larry came to UT Medical Center for another treatment when they learned that part of his liver had shut down. “Dr. Motashaw said to Larry, ‘I want the very best for you. There’s no reason for you to come back to UT Medical Center. Hospice can come to you. They can treat you just like I’ve treated you,’” Linda said. “If Dr. Motashaw hadn’t been involved, I’m not sure he would’ve done this. He would’ve suffered through more treatments. That’s my husband.”
On April 9, 2023, Larry passed away, leaving behind two children, four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and Linda. “Larry would have lived two months with no treatment. He made it five and a half months with treatment,” Linda said. “I knew in my heart of hearts that I had to do everything I could do for him because we didn't have much time left.”
Looking back, Linda has much to reflect upon. “I learned that to be a good caretaker, you need to take care of yourself, too.” Researching treatment options is also key. “I’m so happy to say that I think Larry got the best care available anywhere. I checked into other options. Based on his diagnosis, we were right where we should have been,” she said.
While Linda, her family and Larry’s friends have their own memories, Linda will make sure her husband’s legacy continues through an annual scholarship golf tournament with the Teamsters that he started. “We’ll keep that up. We raised $50,000 this year for students who need help going to college,” Linda said.
Thanks for sharing your story, Linda. We appreciate your insight and honesty, and we’re pleased to know that palliative care and hospice provided you, Larry and your family with some comfort during a difficult time.