Patient Story: Larry
“I will be grateful to her for the rest of my life,” said Linda Trotterchaud about Veera Motashaw, DO, the palliative care physician 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.” Larry mentioned to his doctor that he had some pain beneath his belly button, and 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 the 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 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, Motashaw and her team took over managing Larry’s pain, anxiety, nausea and side effects from the medications. 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. 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,’”. But Motashaw put her at ease and encouraged her to take Larry on the trip. So they headed to St. Augustine 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.”
Larry visited the medical center for palliative care with Veera Motashaw, DO
A couple of weeks after they got home, Linda and Larry came to the 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 the 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
| Cancer Institute Annual Report 16
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